The Family Legacy and Self-Promotion

Proverbs 25:

6. Put not forth thyself (set not out thy glory, marg.) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7. For better it is, that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Is this proverb really about how to avoid a violation of protocol that embarrasses you in public?  Yes, but it is about much more.  Under different circumstances Jesus identified the real point.

“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:8-11)

How is a person exalted? – Not by self-promotion, but by humbly serving others.

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [common] men.” (Proverbs 22:29)

The person who does excellent work will be recognized and selected to work for men of renown, not common men.  Others promote him for his work, he doesn’t promote himself with his mouth.  This was true of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:31.

“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

It is her works that praise her in the gates, not her lips.

Jesus said this about those who promote themselves.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:1-4)

Yet one chapter earlier Jesus said others should see our good works (but not for our glory).

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

A Family Legacy teaches us to do good work in humble service to others in order to glorify God and promote his kingdom.