2 Chronicles 32:31: “So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.”

We have this king, Hezekiah, who had done great things in helping the people of Judah turn back to God. He had some very positive things recorded about his life. But this is a very interesting verse: “God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.” And in that moment he made a blunder. The envoys came from Babylon to visit him, and he showed them everything. He relaxed. He was impressed with himself. He glowed under their attention. “They are giving me attention. They are giving me attention.” But they were not his friends, even though they were giving him attention.

What was in the heart of Hezekiah in this situation? We can say there was a desire for approval, for attention. He wanted to please men. He wanted to be regarded as a “big man.” So God left him alone to test him, to know his true motives.

Jesus Christ said, “Do not do your charitable deeds before people to be seen by them,” and “do not pray…to be seen by people” (Matthew 6:1, 5). Do not be like the hypocrites who blow trumpets before they give, or who stand in public places to pray so they can be noticed.

It is like when someone is upset because they were not called by the right title, or they did not get the right level of regard—and even if they are not outwardly angry, they complain in their heart. Or when someone keeps boasting, “I sat at the back, but they called me to the front,” and will not stop talking about it. We know what is in the heart there: a craving for human recognition, for human accolades.

Paul later said, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). That is where we should be. That is how we should be.

But with Hezekiah, it is clear he wanted to be a people‑pleaser: “You think you are great, Babylon? I am also great.” And God told him through the prophet, “All the things you showed the men from Babylon—they will come back and carry them away. Nothing will be left” (see 2 Kings 20:16–18; Isaiah 39:5–7). In other words, “You have given them a reason to invade you, because you are so keen to impress, so keen to be loved, so keen to be seen as something among people.”

Jesus said, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit in the place of honor… instead go and sit in the lowest place” so that you are not shamed when told, “Give your place to this man” (Luke 14:7–11). He warns against pushing yourself forward to avoid humiliation.

What happened with Hezekiah was serious. He got more than he bargained for. He may have thought, “I am just trying to impress people, trying to be friendly with people,” but there were deeper motives and desires running around in his heart.

In the book of James we read, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Is it not from your passions that battle inside you?” (James 4:1). There are issues of the heart here—issues of motivation, emotion, reaction.

But what did Jesus say? “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest in all ways: rest from seeking human accolades, rest from seeking human approval, rest from running the race for human recognition. Rather, you should “run with endurance the race that is set before you… and lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares” (Hebrews 12:1). And one of those weights can be that drive for human approval, that drive for human recognition.

God bless you.