Talk is Cheap, Truth Isn't

Scripture (Proverbs 27:2, NIV):

"Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."

Devotional:

Have you ever noticed how people are sometimes - like back in my drinking days, I used to see it all the time - folks who bragged the loudest about money were the ones that usually didn't have it, or the ones who said they were all about truth were the ones talking behind people's backs? The same goes with truth: people love to say they want it, but when you actually give it to them, they don't like it. We live in a world where everyone talks about honesty, humility, and doing what's right, but very few actually follow through with living the truth.

That's where this verse hits home. Sometimes God uses the people closest to us to sharpen us, but other times He lets truth come from a stranger. Why? Because when we hear it from someone who has no reason to flatter us or protect us, we know it's not about bias - it's about truth.

It's a reminder that we don't need to defend ourselves, prove our worth, or fight to be heard. If we are walking in integrity, God will send the right voices - even if it is strangers - to confirm His work in us. On the flip side, if our hearts are hard, sometimes it takes the sting of a stranger's words to bring us conviction. That's when we shouldn't get mad at the vessel that brought us Jesus' message, that's what God put us here for!

This verse also calls us to humility. If we are constantly praising ourselves, defending ourselves, or demanding credit - then we are missing the point all together anyways. God's Word says to let others speak, and even more importantly, let Him be the one to defend us.

(Just a side note: Friends stab from the front, not the back. Cowards hide in the shadows, but the bold stand face to face)

Questions to Consider:

1. Do I find myself trying to defend or justify myself instead of letting God vindicate me?

2. When a stranger speaks truth to me, do I receive it with humility or push back in pride?

3. How can I make space today for God to be the One who speaks for me, instead of my own lips?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to walk in humility today. Remind me that I don't have to defend myself or prove myself - Your Word and Your Spirit will do that for me. Soften my heart to receive truth, whether it comes from a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger. Let my life reflect You so clearly that I don't have to use my lips for my own defense, but only to glorify Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.