Tooting One's Own Horn
Have you ever spent time with people who love to talk about themselves and their accomplishments? The expression, “tooting one’s own horn,” describes this self-aggrandizing practice of drawing attention to oneself.
King Saul was already in trouble. He had disobeyed the Lord after a great victory against the Amalekites by not killing all of the people and livestock (see “Partial Obedience” post). Samuel tried to track him down only to find that he had gone to Carmel to “set up a monument in his own honor” (1 Sam. 15:12). In fact, it was Jonathan’s act of courage (which I describe in my “One Act of Courage” post) that set the stage for God to send a wave of panic through the Amalekite camp. Instead of building a monument to God or Jonathan (the true heroes of the story), Saul “toots his own horn” in an attempt to exalt himself.
As a leader, I sometimes follow Saul’s example by positioning myself so that others notice my accomplishments and give credit to me. “Lord. Deliver us from this kind of pride that seeks to exalt oneself and minimize others. Help us to be humble servants who seek your honor above all else. Amen.”