READING: Proverbs 27-29, Galatians 1
It’s one of the toughest things to do, in my opinion. Perhaps that’s because I’m a lot more arrogant than I care to admit, or maybe it’s just part of our fallenness—but it’s a problem either way. All of us are so bent toward pride that it’s a struggle not to make sure at times that others know our significance. It’s so tempting to subtly speak of our achievements, awards, positions, etc.
It’s no wonder, then, that the writer of Proverbs told us, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips” (Prov 27:2). The same person who boasts about tomorrow—thus presuming the future—might well be the same person who tends to praise himself. Both exude an arrogance that is not to mark the follower of God. If one is praised at all, he is to let the unbiased stranger—and not himself—be the one who sees reason to offer praise.
Again, I’m reminded of just how subtly pride captures us. For example, it’s easy to couch our self-praise in a prayer of praise: “I just want to praise God for allowing me to win this award.” It’s easy to build our own accolades into our testimony. It’s easy to make sure that our titles are apparent in our signature line. And, it’s easy to make sure others know our achievements when they introduce us for something. At the bottom line, our fallenness defaults into praising ourselves while trying hard not to look like we’re doing that. Proverbs tells us one way to avoid that sin: just be quiet, and let others affirm us if they wish.
PRAYER: “God, I’m a proud person. Forgive me. Help me not to speak about myself today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch-up day
