Proverbs 27:2 – “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” God’s ways are indeed higher than our ways. In fact, God’s expectations of us are often paradoxically opposite our nature. In order to be rich, one must first stop desiring riches (Matt. 6:33). In order to be great, one must first desire to be least (Luke 9:48). In order to have life and have it more abundantly, one must first lose it (Mark 8:35). It is no surprise then that in order to be praised by others, one must first stop desiring their praise (Luke 14:10).

The people in the Bible who received the most praise were those not seeking it. We don’t even know the woman’s name who anointed Jesus with costly oil, yet Jesus said wherever the gospel was preached, what she did would be told as a memorial to her (Matt. 26:13).

Only fools praise themselves and only fools seek the praise of men. As the Edomites praised themselves, the Lord rebutted “Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down” (Obadiah 1:4). Elevating ourselves with praise from our own lips will only make us fall from deadlier heights.

Brian Messerli