Proverbs 27: Making Everyone Happy

We have all heard it, but do we live by it?

“Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”What about this slap of truth, vs 21: “the crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold but a man is tested by his praise.”

Does this mean we live our life trying always to please others, doing everything we can to make others happy so we will be praised? Of course not! That would do nothing but make us miserable and others mad at us - because to people please, we have to make others mad. We will NEVER make everyone happy. We MUST live our lives always to please God, above reproach in all things, so that when accused of a falsehood, everyone around us will laugh at the absurdity of it. They will turn and have nothing but praise because they can find no fault. They may not like us, but they will have to admit that we do no wrong. This is how we bring Glory to our Lord and God.

I know it was mentioned before in previous proverbs but I find it interesting (knowing Solomon’s story, not surprising, but interesting that it’s here) that we would be told not to go to our family in times of trouble but to a friend (vs 10). I know it says because a brother could be far away and that the reasoning is that the bond of friendship can be closer than family (look at David and Johnathon). But I would think it obvious, if your family is far and your best friends near, that you would be able to turn to them. This is all taking into account that they are also believers and offer wise counsel. Now, we have so many more means of communication today that family is never really “far”. But if we take into account that the Bible is the same yesterday, today, and always; never changing or wrong...then we have to take it as true.

Just an interesting thought to maybe throw out there.