Self praise is no praise

For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. - 2 Corinthians 10.18

I remember a silly little poem from when I was quite young. 

'I am so great and you are so small

I am really amazed I talk to you at all.'

That may be kind of funny and we might get a chuckle, but that sadly represents the attitude that Christians can far too easily develop. It is easy to think that we are doing pretty well. Pride is a terrible thing and yet we let pride spring up and dominate our thinking. We can easily 'think we stand' but when we do that we had better 'take heed lest we fall.' 

I have found that God has a way of keeping us humble. When we get too haughty and sure of ourselves God loves us enough to remind us just who we really are. 

There is certainly no commendation in self approval. Self praise is indeed no praise. 

Really, when we think about it, isn't self praise pretty childish? It's like the grandchildren telling us how fast or how strong or how smart they are. It makes them feel good, but what they are really looking for is for us to agree with them. 

But we ought to know better. Just because we praise ourselves doesn't make it true.