2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
The Book of Proverbs makes for interesting reading. This passage makes me think of the sayings, “Pride comes before a fall,” and “Don’t toot your own horn.” “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” Fame today may not be permanent and just because one has succeeded in one endeavor does not mean that one will be successful in everything. No one can predict what the future will bring, and that can mean further success or failure.
There is much happiness for some people when they see a person fail. This is especially true if the person holds a high position or is in a profession that is considered to be held to a higher standard. Athletes, entertainers as well as politicians, teachers, ministers, etc. fall into this category. Gossip magazines as well as television programs that pass themselves off as current “news” thrive on this. In business, we see people who have worked with a dedicated team of people take credit for the result without mentioning their team members. In the long run, no one likes a boastful person.
In addition to this, someone who is always talking about themselves is not appreciating the value of others. If our eyes are always on ourselves, we don’t have time for others. We all have gifts and we all succeed at something. It may not be something that will win an award, but it will be worth everything in the eyes of God. God measures success in very different ways than the world does. God just wants us to become the person he created us to be. When we succeed in loving others and following his commandments, we will enjoy the reward promised to us and earned for us by Jesus – eternal life with him in heaven.
Father, you have given us everything that we need to be successful followers of your son. Guide our steps along the way so that we will not fail you. Amen.
