METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
DON'T TOOT YOUR OWN HORN
BY PAT GULLEY
Prov 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (KJV)
There is an old saying that goes, "Times change, but people don't." The writer of this Proverb certainly knows that it is not wise to 'toot your own horn'. The Bible teaches us that bragging on one's self is the very thing that caused the fall of Lucifer from heaven.
Isa 14:12-15
(12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (KJV)
Did you notice all the 'I wills' in that revelation from Isaiah about how and why Satan was cast out of Heaven? (Rev 12: 7-9) There were five. When someone says 'I will', and doesn't give any place to the Lord's Will, it is very dangerous territory to be traveling.
It is also not very wise to be saying a lot of 'I dids' or 'we dids'. When it comes to letting other people know of your good deeds or your various exploits it is best if those testimonies come from the mouth of strangers. They do not have an agenda and the Lord already knows what you did so you do not need to impress Him.
Jesus also talks about doing good works and letting our light shine before men that they may see those good works and give the glory to God.
Matt 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
I believe that when the Presence and the Power of God lives and manifests the Mercy and Grace of God in and through the life of a born-again human being, those who see it will be blessed and benefited by it. They will most assuredly give the credit and praise to the Lord and not to the person He has chosen to use.
It is an awesome thing to be used by God as a vessel to help humanity. When the light and workings of the Holy Spirit are witnessed by others, Jesus is magnified and God is glorified. This is the purpose of the Christian and this is why we are joined together with Him as a Witness to the world of God's love.
I am not saying that we will never have to justify ourselves to others. There will be those who may question our motives for doing or saying the things we do or say. Do not be entrapped by them or their accusations.
I am saying that we must be very humble and always know within ourselves that we are but a branch that receives our very sustenance from the Vine. Any fruit of good works that is produced through us is from the Vine and the Vine alone. We should be the first to recognize that.
BY PAT GULLEY
Prov 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (KJV)
There is an old saying that goes, "Times change, but people don't." The writer of this Proverb certainly knows that it is not wise to 'toot your own horn'. The Bible teaches us that bragging on one's self is the very thing that caused the fall of Lucifer from heaven.
Isa 14:12-15
(12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (KJV)
Did you notice all the 'I wills' in that revelation from Isaiah about how and why Satan was cast out of Heaven? (Rev 12: 7-9) There were five. When someone says 'I will', and doesn't give any place to the Lord's Will, it is very dangerous territory to be traveling.
It is also not very wise to be saying a lot of 'I dids' or 'we dids'. When it comes to letting other people know of your good deeds or your various exploits it is best if those testimonies come from the mouth of strangers. They do not have an agenda and the Lord already knows what you did so you do not need to impress Him.
Jesus also talks about doing good works and letting our light shine before men that they may see those good works and give the glory to God.
Matt 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
I believe that when the Presence and the Power of God lives and manifests the Mercy and Grace of God in and through the life of a born-again human being, those who see it will be blessed and benefited by it. They will most assuredly give the credit and praise to the Lord and not to the person He has chosen to use.
It is an awesome thing to be used by God as a vessel to help humanity. When the light and workings of the Holy Spirit are witnessed by others, Jesus is magnified and God is glorified. This is the purpose of the Christian and this is why we are joined together with Him as a Witness to the world of God's love.
I am not saying that we will never have to justify ourselves to others. There will be those who may question our motives for doing or saying the things we do or say. Do not be entrapped by them or their accusations.
I am saying that we must be very humble and always know within ourselves that we are but a branch that receives our very sustenance from the Vine. Any fruit of good works that is produced through us is from the Vine and the Vine alone. We should be the first to recognize that.
posted by Metamora Patter at 8/23/2006 12:51:00 PM
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