Boast (verb): speak with excessive pride and self-satisfaction, especially about oneself (achievements, possessions, abilities) or something/someone connected to you. Synonyms: brag, gloat, show off
“I’m not one to brag, but…” is typically followed by some sort of boast. Which of course then makes the first part of the sentence somewhat untrue. It’s like starting a sentence with “If I’m honest, then…” basically implies that oftentimes I’m not honest. If I need a disclaimer at the beginning of my proclamation, the statement now holds less power.
I started meditating on the word “boast” even before I launched this website last July. My private journal entries related to boasting span a year of reflections and scripture notations. This fact alone tells me I’m struggling with understanding the word, or how to apply it in my life. My flesh and my spirit are battling over it.
One particular Saturday morning, I felt a strong urge to boast to my family about a specific success. And then I opened my devotion book and that day’s scripture leapt out at me:
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2
The devotion went on: “Instead of bragging about yourself, give praise and glory to Jesus.”
In response to that devotion, I wrote in my journal: Lord, help me not to boast. Instead, help me to look for ways to please you. I want your recognition more than anyone else’s.
That prayer, though written many months ago, remains on my lips today. I am still challenged with an attitude of boasting.
As a parent, I hope for my children to be “proud of themselves”, yet I do not endorse a character of arrogance. I want my sons to know I am proud of them, but not through bragging about them every chance I get. I want to set an example of appropriate boasting AND humility. But what is “appropriate” boasting?
To help me face this challenge, I continued my study into what else scripture says about boasting. I quickly found that the Apostle Paul faced boasting head on and wrote about it in his letter to the people of Corinth. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul writes with a bit of sarcasm as he boasts “in the way the world does”. With this sarcastic attitude, he boasts about being Hebrew, of being an Israelite, of being a descendant of Abraham, of being a servant of Christ. He even goes so far as to say, “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.” (verse 23).
The point is, if anyone has something to boast about, Paul certainly does! But Paul continues his lesson by admonishing the act of boasting in one’s own accomplishment and provides this insight to his fellow Christians:
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30
Hmmmm…Boasting in my weaknesses, what would that look like? Sound like? Why do this? Paul explains that the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This is the motivation behind Paul’s declaration of boasting about his weaknesses. Christ shines through Paul’s weaknesses, and thus by boasting about his weaknesses, he is exalting the Savior.
I can look back on my recent blog posts and identify my weaknesses: seeking approval from people, incorrectly defining success, and holding onto shame. Through these weaknesses, I found ways to share my story without a motivation of boasting.
But the struggle continues, and so too, the study of scripture…
In the Old Testament, God spoke these words to the prophet Jeremiah:
This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24
In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Psalm 44:8
We shall not boast about our good works, our riches, our wisdom, our strength, or our obedience. Only one thing deserves boasting about: God.
Back to the question, what is “appropriate” boasting?
- Boasting that I know God, not about my own knowledge.
- Boasting that I rely on God, not about my own abilities.
- Boasting about what God has done, not about my own achievements.
I read a powerful statement during my study that gets to the point:
“Satan cannot achieve his goals in places (or people) where God is being exalted.”
When I boast in myself, I am taking away praise that belongs to God. When I boast in myself, I am opening the door for Satan to influence my life.
- Appropriate boasting exalts God and derails Satan.
- Appropriate boasting shines the light on Christ and leaves my ego in His shadow.
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. Psalm 18:32