DO NOT BRAG OR BOAST ABOUT YOURSELF

Proclamation:

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)  Solomon wanted the people of God to know that bragging is not a good thing to do.  One should not seek to honor one’s self. (Proverbs 25:27)

Application:

Do not brag or boast about who you are or what you have.  Jesus told the parable about the certain rich man who said to himself "... you have plenty of good things laid up for many years ..." and The Lord told him "You fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you." (Luke 12:16-21)  If we brag about what we have, we may not get to enjoy it.  "All such boasting is evil." (James 4:16)  Arrogant boasting about our accomplishments and possessions leaves God out of the equation.  By bragging we are taking credit for what He has blessed us with and allowed or caused to happen.   Personal aggrandizement, self-seeking honor and pride can lead to one's downfall.  "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)  "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom The Lord commends." (2 Corinthians 10:18)  Be humble, lift The Lord up, and He will lift you up.  We should not promote ourselves, promotions are blessing from God and He exalts whom He chooses. (Psalm 75:6-7)  A good academic exercise for us would be to describe ourselves without saying what we do or did, what we have, or who we are related to.  In all of our ways and self-descriptions we should acknowledge the blessing of The Lord. (Proverbs 3:6)