Proverbs 27:2 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is what must be a cast iron rule of life. Do we know ourselves well enough to see how important this is? Do we know the deceptiveness of the human heart and are we strict with ourselves to guard against the danger? A little indulgence in this area can become a habit that grows until it is a stream too strong to dam the flow. The taste of self-praise is sweet and sin works subtly in us to persuade us to lower our guard while insidiously egging us on. Each time we give way we become weaker to resist, so that the only safe approach is to say, no entirely, to this evil. This is our way of mortifying pride, a sin with which every Christian has a life-long battle. This case is so difficult to deal with that our Lord has given us instruction which seems overly harsh, and yet is perfect in its practicality: ‘Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth’ (Matthew 6:3). Do not reflect on it; do not be deceived by it.Let another praise you and do not use indirect hints to get them to do so. Let this thing go completely out of your own control and do not go hunting after human praise. If some wishes to praise us, then they may do so, but we set little store by it, since we know that the only praise that is worth having is the praise of God who sees everything. When he praises us it is a matter of grace and of wonder, because the totality of our lives certainly does not deserve praise. When we hear the contrary from men, that is, when we receive criticism, we are not over concerned, for we know that they do not know the half of the evil that is within our hearts. How are we to react when we are praised? Not brusquely, but graciously. Nevertheless we do not let that praise into our sinful hearts so that it feeds the nascent pride lurking is within us. We remember what we really are and how ill-fitting is any praise to our real character.