Proverbs 27:2, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth . . ."
Bragging. It's like body odor--It always seems to smell worse on others than on ourselves. Why do we love to brag? Why do we promote ourselves, generously patting ourselves on the back and sharing stories that always place us in the best light (even at the expense of others)? Some brief thoughts on boastfulness, and... what it really tells about each of us:
1. Bragging ignores the Source of my gifts.
James Small wrote the poetry for the hymn, "I've Found a Friend, Oh, Such a Friend." His second stanza contains this compelling thought: "Naught that I have mine own I call, I hold it for the Giver. My heart, my strength, my life, my all are His, and His forever." Whatever thing we hold precious about ourselves that prompts us to brag--our abilities, intelligence, appearance, heritage--is merely a borrowed resource, with the intent of honoring God. Like a toddler who proudly carries his daddy's drill, we sometimes think that these borrowed tools have the effect of making us more important. We are wrong. Someday, God will likely ask for many of those resources back. And when our minds are declining, and our hands no longer can produce music at the piano, we will be startled by the fleeting nature of earthly gifts.
2. Bragging places trust in human device. Amazingly, it's not humility that is opposite of pride; it's FAITH. Note the structure of Proverbs 28:25, "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat." Do you see how the sentence acts like a weighted scale? On one side we have pride, and on the other side we have trust (faith) in the Lord. Faith really IS the victory over every sin we face, including pride. Humility is a by-product of faith in the Lord. Pride is trusting in self, and bragging is the fruit of that misplaced trust. And as is so often the case, "The bigger the mouth, the smaller the man." Give God all the glory for your successes, and you'll never be accused of exaggeration.
3. Bragging tramples on the needs of those around me. Philippians 2:4 says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others." Our focus is not on how we can take care of ourselves, but always on those around us and on their needs. Whatever abilities and gifts God has lent us are for His will and to serve others, not to claim the glory for ourselves. Competing for attention by matching boast for boast ("Your team won by 35 points? Well, we once won a basketball game by 55!") does not humble the other person; it merely ignites their sinful desire to prove themselves even more. Usually it's our own pride that reacts to the pride in others and wants to fill the position of "humbling" them. We are pretty wretched creatures, without the help of the Holy Spirit to change us and control us! First Corinthians 13:4 - 5 remind us that "Charity . . . is not puffed up . . . seeketh not her own."
4. Bragging robs me of God's rewards for me. When the disciples grew frustrated with the Pharisees, who exalted themselves in the streets with costly robes and Old Testament Scripture verses plastered to their foreheads, noses in the air and self-righteousness emanating from their loud, lengthy, fleshly prayers, Jesus simply said, "They have their reward." We serve a Christ Who commanded us to pray in closets, figuratively reminding us to seek a higher reward than the praise of man. So pity the bragger. He has his reward.
Bragging. It's like body odor--It always seems to smell worse on others than on ourselves. Why do we love to brag? Why do we promote ourselves, generously patting ourselves on the back and sharing stories that always place us in the best light (even at the expense of others)? Some brief thoughts on boastfulness, and... what it really tells about each of us:
1. Bragging ignores the Source of my gifts.
James Small wrote the poetry for the hymn, "I've Found a Friend, Oh, Such a Friend." His second stanza contains this compelling thought: "Naught that I have mine own I call, I hold it for the Giver. My heart, my strength, my life, my all are His, and His forever." Whatever thing we hold precious about ourselves that prompts us to brag--our abilities, intelligence, appearance, heritage--is merely a borrowed resource, with the intent of honoring God. Like a toddler who proudly carries his daddy's drill, we sometimes think that these borrowed tools have the effect of making us more important. We are wrong. Someday, God will likely ask for many of those resources back. And when our minds are declining, and our hands no longer can produce music at the piano, we will be startled by the fleeting nature of earthly gifts.
2. Bragging places trust in human device. Amazingly, it's not humility that is opposite of pride; it's FAITH. Note the structure of Proverbs 28:25, "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat." Do you see how the sentence acts like a weighted scale? On one side we have pride, and on the other side we have trust (faith) in the Lord. Faith really IS the victory over every sin we face, including pride. Humility is a by-product of faith in the Lord. Pride is trusting in self, and bragging is the fruit of that misplaced trust. And as is so often the case, "The bigger the mouth, the smaller the man." Give God all the glory for your successes, and you'll never be accused of exaggeration.
3. Bragging tramples on the needs of those around me. Philippians 2:4 says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others." Our focus is not on how we can take care of ourselves, but always on those around us and on their needs. Whatever abilities and gifts God has lent us are for His will and to serve others, not to claim the glory for ourselves. Competing for attention by matching boast for boast ("Your team won by 35 points? Well, we once won a basketball game by 55!") does not humble the other person; it merely ignites their sinful desire to prove themselves even more. Usually it's our own pride that reacts to the pride in others and wants to fill the position of "humbling" them. We are pretty wretched creatures, without the help of the Holy Spirit to change us and control us! First Corinthians 13:4 - 5 remind us that "Charity . . . is not puffed up . . . seeketh not her own."
4. Bragging robs me of God's rewards for me. When the disciples grew frustrated with the Pharisees, who exalted themselves in the streets with costly robes and Old Testament Scripture verses plastered to their foreheads, noses in the air and self-righteousness emanating from their loud, lengthy, fleshly prayers, Jesus simply said, "They have their reward." We serve a Christ Who commanded us to pray in closets, figuratively reminding us to seek a higher reward than the praise of man. So pity the bragger. He has his reward.
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