Let Someone Else Do the Talking

“Any of you guys got any offers?”

“Not yet...but he does.”

A group of high school football players immediately started talking up their teammate who had committed to a Division 1 program.

They couldn’t stop bragging on him. The smiles on their faces told the real story. They were proud of their teammate, excited for his future, and genuinely happy to see him succeed.

Their enthusiasm was contagious. I found myself smiling right along with them as if I had known this young man for years.

What surprised me most was his response.

He stood there quietly. No boasting. No attempt to impress anyone. Hardly even a smile.

Was all the hype deserved?

A few minutes later, the answer came.

A long pass was thrown into the end zone. He leaped over the defender and made an incredible touchdown catch.

It wasn't luck. It wasn't just because he was tall. It was skill.

Only then did a brief flash of emotion appear as he celebrated with his teammates.

I couldn't help but admire the combination of confidence, talent, and humility.

Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let someone else praise you; and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”

Humility doesn't mean pretending you're not gifted. It means allowing your character and your actions to speak for themselves.

The more I thought about that morning, the more I appreciated the teammates than the touchdown.

They weren't trying to impress anyone. They simply couldn't help talking about someone they respected and cared about. They were honored to call him a teammate, and that made it easy to tell complete strangers about him.

It made me wonder how often I spend more time talking about my own accomplishments than celebrating someone else's.

What if we became people who noticed the faithfulness, character, generosity, and gifts of those around us? What if we looked for opportunities to encourage others instead of seeking recognition ourselves?

When we celebrate the work God is doing in other people, our attention shifts away from ourselves and toward His goodness. That kind of humility doesn't diminish us. It reflects Christ.

Anyway, I was just thinking...