(Prov 27:2 NIV) Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” In this verse Solomon teaches us about humility and honor. It’s not honorable to go around praising your own works. Sometimes it’s tough as a Christian to balance the desire to want to be the best at what you do, with the requirement to remain humble. It’s like… you want to celebrate your victories, but then again, you don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Furthermore, all of us have an innate desire to want to know when we are doing well. Believe me, I understand how rewarding the praise of man can be. I enjoy positive feedback and recognition just as much as anyone. It is a blessing to me when others acknowledge the hard work I put into things. It feels good, it is encouraging, and it serves as motivation to do more. But if I went around asking people to acknowledge my work, to recognize my accomplishments, and to admit that I am doing a good job, the only thing they would wind up acknowledging is my pride. Not only would pursuing praise be prideful, but it would not bring glory to God.
Walking in God’s grace requires humility and we can find no better example than Jesus Himself. If there was ever a person who could have taken credit for making a positive impact on everything He put His hands to do, it would be Jesus. Jesus fed the multitudes compassionately, preached to the poor emphatically, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak miraculously, and He raised the dead supernaturally. To say that the ministry of the Sadducees and Pharisees paled in comparison to the ministry of Jesus is a grace understatement. After Jesus finished preaching a message on time the crowds said, “He taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law” (Mat 7:29). Jesus’ ministry was head-and-shoulders above anything anyone had ever experienced at the time. He created a following in three short years that far surpassed what the Jewish leadership had attempted to create for decades. Jesus was undoubtedly exceptional in every way. Jesus was divinely appointed, walking in purpose, full of passion, powerfully charismatic, and endowed with supernatural power. If anyone had the right to seek praise it was Jesus, but He didn’t. Jesus never ‘tooted his own horn.’ As a matter of fact, when others came to Him and brought up His greatness in a conversation Jesus would simply say, “That is what you say.” In other words, Jesus let other people say how great He was. He never said it Himself and He never pursued accolades.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Be faithful and consistent. When you walk in honor, humility, and grace, it is only a matter of time before the recognition comes.
2. Don’t get discouraged. Spending your time worrying about being recognized will make you bitter and angry. Just keep doing what is right before God and your recognition will come.
3. Let others say how good you are. It’s never comes across well for you to attempt to do it yourself.
4. Deflect the glory back to God. The Father wants you to be acknowledged and rewarded so He can shine through you. But never actively seek recognition and deflect the glory back to Him when are you acknowledged.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for supernatural wisdom, grace, and humility. As I walk in all three I am able to live an honorable life before You and man. I do what is right, because it’s right, and I then do it right, every time, whether I am being watched or not. I do what I do FOR YOU. I seek to honor You every day, in every way. I love You with all my heart and I know that as I consistently accomplish my duties in excellence You will see to it that I get recognized and when I do, I will turn around and give You the glory. However, I never actually pursue recognition myself. Instead of pursuing recognition, I simply pursue You, and I as I do, recognition has a way of pursuing me! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
