Greetings in Christ,
We have all done it. It helps build our self-esteem at times, and it gives us confidence. We have seen it done on a grand scale which can sometimes seem a bit too much, but we go along with it to some degree. It takes us to a point we become relaxed in our efforts because we think we have arrived. It also brings up other feelings when we hear others do it as well thinking they are a bit too arrogant. We have all done it. We have boasted on our accomplishments.
We have all done it, and it is only human to do, but it can go too far in our approach in how we boast. We can build ourselves to the point we feel we have done something or many things on our own. We can consider ourselves to be smart, educated, and experienced which gives us those bragging rights to proclaim ourselves worthy of other’s attention in our accomplishments.
We have all seen it done. We have seen others stand up and boast about all their accomplishments, and if you are like most people, you have the tendency to turn off their words in your head letting them go in one ear and out the other. It gets quite annoying to hear others boast on themselves over and over. It is all about the ego side of it which can drive people to constantly boast, and it is also the ego side it which drives us crazy because it is not us doing the boasting.
We have all done it at one time or another, and it is not all wrong, but it can lead us down the wrong road. It is when we let it be our driving force in our life thinking we have arrived turning us look inward to our own abilities based on our being smart, educated, and experienced. It takes us on a journey which can lead to spiritual disaster when we have the focus only on us.
This selected scriptures below give us a look at some boasting done in the past.
Amos gives us a depiction of the people becoming so relaxed they brag about the ability to recline and party all the time. They have defeated their enemies to the point they have become so powerful the other nations fear them, and now the people of Israel can relax and feast all day and night without having to worry about a thing. They have become so arrogant in their boasting they have forgotten their ancestor’s hardships and God Himself. They have become self-reliant believing they have created their bliss on their own.
Paul writes to the Thessalonians telling them not to fall prey to false teaching. Those who are teaching the wrong things have believed they have all the answers and want to boast to others they know it all. The arrogant proclaimers were making it known they know when Jesus will return, and they are leading others down the wrong path spiritually. Paul is telling those who will listen to him not to fall for those who are boasting in their own knowledge.
Luke gives us another side of boasting. John the Baptist has been born, and all the people have gathered to hear the name Zacharias and Elizabeth will be giving their son. Elizabeth declares it will be John, and all the people are amazed at her proclamation stating there is no name like that in their family history. The people turn to Zacharias, who was not able to speak for nine months, as he writes his name will be John. Zacharias regains his speech and begins to declare prophesy and praising God.
We have all done it. We have bragged on ourselves many times, and not to say it is all bad, but when we think we have accomplished the things we done our own we forget Who has given us those capabilities, we lose sight of our Creator. As much as we like to boast on ourselves, we do not always like to hear it done by others because it can get annoying. We let our ego get the best of us.
We have all done it, but we forget where our boasting should be centered. Our boasting should be centered on the fact God has created us and He has given us the talents and abilities to do all the things we do. God does not like listening to our boasting as much as we do not like listening to others brag. It takes Him out of the picture, and it puts us in the center which is not the right thing to do. We should be boasting about God giving us the abilities to do the things we do.
We can never boast enough on what God has done for us. It takes the focus off us, and it puts it on God where it belongs. God’s grace has been extended to us in many ways, and we should never take it for granted. Boasting on God reminds us of the grace which has been extended to us.
“O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. May you be blessed of the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men. The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence; but as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 115:9-18
Lord may we boast on You and all You do for us. May we keep You in the center of our lives. Amen
Blessings,