July 27

Jul 27 – Today from Proverbs 27 we look at verse 2
"Let another praise you and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips."

Sometimes people talk about their experiences with the focus on themselves in order to try to gain the praise of others. No matter how good one's deed is, their self-praise diminishes their testimony. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 (verses 2, 5 & 16) that when people seek the praise of others for their good works, any praise they might receive is its own reward. There is no more - not from man, and not from God. People who engage in self-praise are people who are needy, but they are 'fishing in an empty pond'. Whatever it is that they need, they won't find fulfillment in self-praise or solicited praise. One only finds true fulfillment when they discover that they were created to glorify God (magnify His character), and they serve out of compassion for others. Jesus says that God sees their work in secret, and He will reward them. Those rewards are not all somewhere off in the sweet-by-and-by. A job well done is its own reward. Fulfilling your calling is its own reward. Seeing someone helped through a difficult situation is its own reward. Seeing God glorified through your service is its own reward.
Do Good. Serve God in every opportunity He affords you. But don't rob God of His glory by taking credit for gifts He has given you. If others don't notice, don't worry - your Father sees in secret, and He will reward you. If others DO praise you, accept it with humility and gratitude, and pass it on to the One who alone is worthy of ALL praise. He made you, He redeemed you, and He gifted you - just as He purposed. "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." –Jeremiah 9:24