Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
Blowing Your Own Trumpet
It takes a lot to not blow your own trumpet. It takes a lot to overcome the fears that have us blow it. What if I am overlooked? What if I am forgotten? If I don’t tell people how well I did things, they might think I can not do things well. These perspectives are even more understandable if there is no God. However, to live as if there is no God is the way of the fool. The truly strong person has a good idea of what God knows about them. They neither need to create a facade nor do they take too much pride in the things they have done. They glory in what God is doing in them and give the praise to God. God then gives opportunities for others to see what we have done in His strength so that He is glorified.
Try to go through the day without defending yourself or building yourself up in the eyes of others.
Questions
- From what should a wise person refrain?
- Who exactly should give us praise?
- How would you describe an ‘outsider’ of Jewish culture?
- Are you looking for praise? Why? Why not?
- Which outsiders might praise you and why?
Plymothian 