Bible Study Verse
Proverbs 12:23
The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. (NIV)
Thoughts
The young man never even stopped to look. As I pulled into the parking space of the general store in west Texas, the young man approached me. With wild eyes and arms flailing in the air, he began telling me the story of his exploits in the woods, how he finally managed to harvest the biggest buck in the west Texas area, and that the rest of us should just pack up and go home.
All I could do was listen. Any attempt to sneak a word in during one of his few inhalation pauses would have been met with an elevated tone that would drown out anything I might have said. At the end of his rather lengthy dissertation, I was barely able to offer a congratulations before he moved to the next unsuspecting, camouflage clothed, firearm carrying person who happened to be stopping for gas. He never even noticed the buck under the canopy in the bed of my truck, even larger than the one he’d described.
Action Point
We have all met people like this, boasters. As sportsmen, we love to sit around the campfire and share stories of our favorite outdoor adventures. This is a time-tested tradition handed down by our ancestors before the invention of writing instruments. It is one of the greatest ways to pass on lessons learned, hard knocks, successful practices, and amusing anecdotes. However, it is important that we do not fall in to the trap of “one-up-manship.” You know what I mean, the ability to elevate ourselves just a little bit higher than the other person, often in a self-indulgent attempt to inflate our ego.
Remember: all we do, we do for God’s glory, not for man’s. Trying to prove our worth or capabilities generally does not impress others and certainly does not impress God. God enjoys a humble spirit and quiet confidence that encourages others.
Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
During transport of your harvest, be modest and do your best to keep it our of view of others who may not share your enthusiasm.