Boasting and Praise

September 29, 2022

Proverbs 27:1 

Boast not yourself of tomorrow: for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Here is yet another reminder of our inability to predestine the future. Effectively, James says the same thing in his epistle: 

“Go to now, you that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that you ought to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that’” (Jam. 4:13–15). 

The most powerful person on earth has no control over the future. He may or may not wake up alive in the morning. So this is an important reminder for men who think they have control over empires and whole financial institutions worth billions of dollars. In previous eras, Christians used to use the acronym “DV” (short for Deo volente) when they communicated their plans to others. The Latin phrase is translated “God willing.” When people use phrases like this, they humbly acknowledge God’s ultimate control over every detail of their lives. Though men may pretend they can command the future and follow through on some planned event, they are lying to themselves and to others. Only God knows the future because He has determined the future (Is. 46:11). This is basic to a Christian view of reality. Therefore, Christians should use phrases like “God willing” or “if the Lord is willing” as frequently as the average person says “hello” and “goodbye.” 

Proverbs 27:2 

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

One of the most common temptations for people is to seek recognition from others. When we’re not fishing for compliments from others, we are complimenting ourselves. It is extremely difficult to overcome these temptations. The problem, of course, is pride. The business of trying to be a god is wearisome because from the outset nobody is worshiping you the way you think they should. So you will wear yourself out trying to get others to give you credit for this or that. The better thing is to give God the glory. Spend your time collecting glory for the true and living God instead of collecting kudos for yourself. 

There are no limits to human ambition and no end to popularity contests in the world. Political campaigns encourage men to “sell themselves” to the populace. In the corporate world, employees often feel the need to “toot their own horn” if they want to be recognized and remunerated fairly. There are even professing Christian “worship leaders” today who hire publicity agents and image consultants. Recently, a young professing Christian won the Miss America beauty contest—a competition largely based upon physical appearance and “swimsuit” modeling. Would Peter or Paul have recommended a “modest, meek, and quiet spirit” contest for the young ladies in Asia minor? In such a contest, the most humble person would most likely forfeit the prize to somebody else! 

It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of you; what matters most is what God thinks of you. Even if men compliment you, don’t let it go to your head. Their compliments do not mean much, and typically, the praise of men is fleeting. Corporate executives lose their jobs. Politicians are voted out of office. Miss America contestants grow old and wrinkled within a few decades, and nobody cares about them much anymore. 

But what is the difference between reporting on your accomplishments to an electorate or a manager and complimenting yourself? All of us will put our names on reports, books, patents, and business brochures. Everybody engages in marketing their own products or services on one level or another. It is better to market a business than a person. It is also better to speak as objectively as possible about yourself without drawing subjective conclusions. You may report to your employer that you made 10,000 widgets without pointing out that you did a “better job” than other employees in your division. That is something for him to find out on his own. A humble political candidate might speak of his own political positions and his voting record without casting aspersions on his competition. He doesn’t have to outline the seven areas in which his own character outshines that of his opponents in the race. He can insist on his commitment to balancing the budget (as long as that is the truth) without calling his opponent a “spend thrift.” He would let others do the comparisons and draw conclusions about who is the better man in the race. 

Family Discussion Questions: 

1. Why should you be careful about announcing your plans for tomorrow? How do you announce your plans to others? Do you ever say, “God willing?” 

2. Should Christians participate in beauty contests? Why or why not?