Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

We all like to think well of ourselves.  We like to make known those good things about us.  It seems like a prominent goal of most people nowadays to display their own goodness for everyone else to marvel over.  It’s a selfie generation looking for likes.  But are we really living up to the image we have of ourselves? Are those things that we praise ourselves for the most important things?  What do those things we brag about really say about us?

But God values faithfulness.  It’s not about extraordinary accomplishments or the grand things that we do.  It’s being faithful.  It’s that step-by-step walk every day with the Lord.  It’s one right decision after another.  It’s sticking close to God’s way.  It’s honoring our commitment to the Lord and obeying each thing He’s given us to do.  It’s fulfilling our purpose and not forsaking Him or His path.

And maybe that doesn’t involve much we can brag about, but it does honor God.  Our lives are supposed to magnify Him anyway, not ourselves.  He is supposed to increase as we decrease.  He is to be glorified as we seek to make Him known and tell of all the great things He has done.  He alone is good and does good, so we should brag on His goodness, His love, His mercy, His justice, and His truth.

May we be willing to set ourselves aside and simply be faithful.  May we be content to walk along our path with the Lord, seeking no recognition or acclaim, not seeking to be noticed and praised, but to find our joy in just being with Him, knowing Him, and serving Him.  It’s not a popular way to live, but the highest commendation Jesus will give to us is, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  And so if faithfulness is something God values so much, may we strive for that in our lives and seek His favor alone.