Walking with the Wise #499: Surrendering Self-Promotion

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;


a stranger, and not your own lips.”
—Proverbs 27:2

Bragging is never a good thing—unless it’s in the Lord (Psalm 44:8; Jeremiah 9:24; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Galatians 6:14). Our tendency is to brag about how good we are—to show that we exist and are important. We are afraid of not being noticed. And rather than trust in the Lord, we feel that we have to trust in ourselves—promote, market, and get what we can because no one will do it for us.

That may be the way of the world, but that is certainly not the way of Christ. The way of Christ is the way of humility, self-denial, surrender, sacrifice, and death. Our boast is only to be in Christ and in Christ alone—not in our work, word, or worldly worth. As Paul wrote,

“…though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” —Philippians 3:4-8.

Paul understood that it wasn’t about our accomplishments—they are nothing compared with knowing Jesus. We shouldn’t seek praise for ourselves by self-promotion or comparing ourselves with others (2 Corinthians 10:12)—God will take care of that by causing others to notice us, if that is His will. Our responsibility is to make more of Him, commending ourselves to Him (2 Corinthians 10:18), boasting in Him, humbling ourselves, and then resting in the knowledge that at the proper time, He will exalt us (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

Trust in the Lord, refuse to promote yourself, and rest in the knowledge that He is God and will guard, direct, and promote you—in His time and in His way. Amen.