That’s a Job for. . . Someone Else!

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (Prov 27:2).

It’s hard to think of anything more annoying than a person who constantly talks about himself. Maybe you know somebody who has done everything (at least twice!), been everywhere, seen everything, and is never shy about telling everybody. If somebody starts telling about something they’ve done, he butts in with, “I’ve done that too.” We do not want that kind of person for a friend.
This kind of selfishness and self-centeredness in conversation betrays that same self-centeredness in life. Think about it: if we think highly of a sports team, a brand of clothing, or a favorite activity, our speech will be peppered with references to that thing. What we talk about and who we praise demonstrates what is important to us and foremost in our thinking. If you are constantly talking yourself up and telling others how great you are, it’s a sure sign that you are living a self-centered life.
This self-centered thinking and talking is the opposite of a Christ-centered life. Last week we talked about how Jesus Christ died for us, so that we would not live for ourselves anymore, but for Him. A Christian desires to bring glory to Jesus Christ, not to himself. Instead of shamelessly promoting ourselves and telling other people how great we are, we should be looking for ways to build others up.
If you do great things, keep quiet. Let somebody else praise you, and then “deflect” the glory to God. Finally, if you think nobody will notice the good things you are doing, don’t worry: God sees all things and He will reward you. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor 4:5).