Avoid Self-Promotion

Jeremy Camp sings, "He Knows." "He knows! He knows every hurt and every sting. He has walked this suffering. He knows! He knows! Let your burdens come undone. Lift your eyes up to the One Who knows!" It is comforting to know that the Lord knows what we are going through, no matter what it is, good or bad. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, walked this earth as a man. He felt our temptations and our joys. He knows what we face, and He can help us through it, if we just look to Him for His unfailing love!

Judges 9:1-2 says, "Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, 'Ask all the citizens of Shechem, "Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?" Remember, I am your flesh and blood.'" (NIV)

Leaders should not be proud. Rather, "Godly leaders must remind themselves of the Lord's instruction: 'Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time' (1 Peter 5:6)." (John Maxwell) Pride can cause one to put themselves above others to the point that the leader degrades others. Such self-promotion is not a godly attitude.

It is okay to have a position that is higher that someone else's, but a leader should never use that to put others down and hurt them. It is God who has appointed leaders, "for there is no authority except that which God has established." (See Romans 13:1.) Instead of having a self-centered attitude, a leader should focus on working cohesively with others for the benefit of the entire group.

Maxwell asks, "How do you resist self-promotion?"

I thank God for my achievements. That helps me to remember that He has given me what I have. Furthermore, He knows what I need, and what I want, even before I ask for it, as Psalm 139:4 says.

Whether you struggle with this or not, pray this prayer: Father, thank You for all that You have given me. Please keep pride from setting into me. Help me to always remember that, "every good and perfect gift" has come from You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

(See James 1:17 for the verse I quoted in that prayer.)

God bless you!

He Knows