January 30, Proverbs 27:1-2

To “blow your own horn” is to boast. Often, a boastful person may despise or look down on others, that is why pride is such an ugly sin. To teach people not to despise others, Jesus told a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying at a temple.

The Pharisee stood proudly and prayed,” God, I thank thee that I am not like the cheats, the law breakers, the adulterers or even this tax collector. I fast twice a week and tithe faithfully.” At a corner stood the tax collector who hardly dared to lift up his head. He beat his breast, showing how unworthy he felt. He prayed sincerely, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

Whose prayer did God answer? It was the prayer of the humble tax collector who was truly sorry for his sins! What about the Pharisee? He boasted to God about how he had obeyed the law and considered himself better than other sinners. He thought that God would receive his prayer, but it was not so.

The Pharisee’s prayer was not a prayer at all. It was self-praise. He was just boasting about his own good behaviour. He was blowing his own horn. The Bible says, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth….” In other words, self-praise is no praise.

The Bible reminds us to be humble because we do not know what will happen to us even the next day. In fact, we do not know what can happen the next minute. There is really nothing that we can boast of. All the goodness we enjoy comes from above. Let us be wise never to boast.

Is every one of these persons blowing his own horn?
1. “Everyone says I am good at Maths!”
2. “All my aunts like the picture I painted. Isn’t it better than all my classmates’?”
3. “ I am not boasting Mommy, but all the other contestants are so dumb.”
4. “I will sure win that race tomorrow. I am so fit”

ANSWER: __________

Thought: I cannot even know what will happen tomorrow. What have I to boast about?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be humble always. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.