What is the value of letting another man praise you (Proverbs 27:2)?

Answer

In Proverbs 27:2, King Solomon offers wisdom for dealing with the issues of human pride and boasting:

“Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips” (NKJV).

Solomon advises, “Let another man praise you,” because it is much better to receive praise from someone else than to praise oneself. In Proverbs 25:27, wisdom states, “It is not good to consume too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own glory” (ESV). Only conceited and insecure individuals feel the need to boast about themselves. If our achievements are praiseworthy, others will take notice, and we should allow them to appreciate or commend us.

Proverbs 25:6–7 also cautions against self-promotion: “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, ‘Come up here,’ than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” A modest person allows others to offer recognition and advancement, while an arrogant person sets themselves up for embarrassment and criticism.

Jesus echoed the lesson of Proverbs 25:6–7 in Luke 14:7–11, concluding with this universal application for all aspects of life: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (verse 11). In His Sermon on the Mount, the Lord taught this paradox of the kingdom: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” « Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. », (Matthew 5:5, NLT). When we release our desire for recognition and greatness, we gain the entire world (Matthew 19:30;Matthew 20:16;Mark 10:31;Luke 9:46-48).

The Pharisees constantly desired o

There are those who seek recognition for their superiority and excellence. John 12:43 mentions them, “For they loved human praise more than praise from God.” These individuals were too egotistical and self-righteous to realize that their faith was hollow and meaningless. Jesus questioned them, “How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” «How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? », (John 5:44).

The apostle Paul taught, “When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them” «For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.», (2 Corinthians 10:18, NLT). Jesus Himself said, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me” «Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: », (John 8:54).

Instead of boasting about himself and his accomplishments, Paul boasted in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ might be made evident through them (2 Corinthians 12:5,9-10). “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world,” he declared «But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. », (Galatians 6:14, ESV).
In Jeremiah 9:23–24, the Lord said, “Let not

The wise boast of their wisdom, the strong boast of their strength, and the rich boast of their riches. But let the one who boasts, boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.”

Paul echoed Jeremiah when he considered everything he had gained “as loss for the sake of… knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:7-10).

The Bible repeatedly warns against boasting (1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 75:4) and instructs believers to “let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; see also 2 Corinthians 10:17). “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad,” declared David in Psalm 34:2 (ESV).

Paul explained, “Your boasting is not good” «Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? », (1 Corinthians 5:6). In Romans 1:30, Paul identified it as sinful. James called such arrogant boasting “evil” «But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. », (James 4:16). So, for this reason, the wisest course is to “let another man pra

Applaud yourself for saying “excuse you” instead of applauding yourself.