Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. (Proverbs 27:1-3)
Mature Christians make it a point to not speak of themselves in an arrogant, braggadocios manner. Why should you tell everyone about what you are working on or what your goals are? I’ve met those who constantly brag about what they have and where they went and what they are planning to do in the future. They sound like a broken record continually playing the track “me - me - me” in every conversation. If you find yourself in a discussion with someone who only talks about themselves, know that you are talking to a baby and not a grown Christian.
Proverbs explains that praise is not wrong, but don’t make it come from your own lips. Let someone else see the passion you have, the hard work you have done, the right attitude that you displayed while doing it and praise you. Walking in love means allowing your character and your work to speak for itself and not have to act in a way that makes everyone have to look and pay attention to you.
One Sunday, years ago, in the middle of a message, someone stood up and interrupted, saying, “Bishop, the Lord told me to tell you…” and I pointed to him and said, “Shut up and sit down”. Why? Because the Holy Spirit doesn’t interrupt Himself. The Holy Spirit told me what to teach, and I taught that. That individual had no restraint and just wanted to be seen. That’s what Proverbs 27:3 says: “a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.” It means a fool who seeks attention through dramatic behavior or acting impulsively will bring destruction.
Practical Application
Make sure that you are surrounding yourself with wise counsel—individuals who can offer constructive feedback and guidance through prayer and experience. We must have trusted believers in our lives who can give us praise and equally give us correction with love.