Thursday, June 24, 2010

Daily Word: Bragging Rights

Proverbs 27:1-2 say: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (RSV) The JPS Study Bible comments: "Do not praise yourself for future achievements." This is wise advice. As the old saying goes, "Let your actions speak for themselves." It is not good to brag about yourself. People don't want to hear that from you. If you want to brag on someone, brag on your spouse, your family, your co-workers, or your opposition, and allow others to give you praise.

Do you find it easy to give yourself praise? The Family Bible Notes comments: "The blinding influence of self-love makes us poor judges of our own good qualities. For this reason self-commendation is always unseemly." It would appear that we may be too biased to accurately judge our actions. It would seem that we want to be judged by our motives while judging others by their actions. There is another old saying: "The closer we get to God, the more judgmental we are of ourselves and the further we are from God the more judgmental we are of others."

Today, examine how you present yourself to others. Do you brag about your future achievements or are you willing to defer to the praise of others. Draw closer to God and you will be harder on yourself and merciful to others. When you do, I believe that others will begin to praise you.

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