1 Corinthians 13:4 says, "Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love..." (Voice)
Love doesn't boast.
Love doesn't brag.
Love doesn't strut about.
Brag means, "To boast" and boast means, "to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself."
Strut means, "to walk with a vain, pompous bearing...."
Bragging and boasting is dangerous for our spirits and dangerous for our relationships because it gives us an inflated view of ourselves. It becomes-- look what I excel at, look at how much better I am than you, look at how hard I work for our relationship, I can do this and you can't.... and as our ego begins to grow, it leaves little room for the hearts of those we care for.
Love puts other's needs before our own.
Bragging puts our thoughts and achievements before anything else.
Bible Verses.
Proverbs 27:2 says, "Let someone else praise you; compliments are always sweeter from a stranger’s lips than from your own." (Voice)
-- What God is saying here is this: don't let compliments about yourself pour from your lips. Let others do that-- and if others don't, rest in the fact that God sees the beauty on your appearance, your actions, your words, etc.
Jeremiah 48:30 states, " I, too, know of the arrogant outbursts, but they are pointless; empty boasts accomplish nothing." (Voice)
--- Empty boasts accomplish nothing. An Arab Proverb states, "A good deed dies when it is spoken about." Thus, it accomplished nothing. We must guard our words, our thoughts, and our actions-- pray for a humble spirit to be in our souls.
Matthew 6:2- "When you give to the poor, do not boast about it, announcing your donations with blaring trumpets as the play actors do. Do not brazenly give your charity in the synagogues and on the streets; indeed, do not give at all if you are giving because you want to be praised by your neighbors. Those people who give in order to reap praise have already received their reward." (Voice)
--- When we do an act of kindness, it is not healthy to boast about it. It erodes the goodness in the deed. I read a quote on Pinterest that stated, 'Beautiful things don't ask for attention..." they just receive it. This is something to remember.
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 says, " But celebrate this: God selected the world’s foolish to bring shame upon those who think they are wise; likewise, He selected the world’s weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong. 28 God selected the common and the castoff, whatever lacks status, so He could invalidate the claims of those who think those things are significant. 29 So it makes no sense for any person to boast in God’s presence. 30 Instead, credit God with your new situation: you are united with Jesus the Anointed. He is God’s wisdom for us and more. He is our righteousness and holiness and redemption. 31 As the Scripture says: “If someone wants to boast, he should boast in the Lord." (Voice)
--- God doesn't care what our social standing is. He doesn't care how much schooling we have. He doesn't care how much money we make. He doesn't care how smart we think we are. He will use the weakest person (in our mindset) over the strongest and He will use the world's foolish to bring disgrace on those who think they're wise. This is why it is vital to keep a humble spirit. We do not get anywhere on our own devices-- it is God Almighty that gives and takes away. Credit God with your new situation. Thank Him. Thank You Jesus for this new car. Thank You Jesus for this business opportunity. Thank You Jesus for this promotion. Thank You Jesus for this raise. Thank You Jesus-- because I know if it wasn't for You, I wouldn't have anything.
1 Corinthians 4:6-7- .....perhaps none of you will swell with pride because you fall into the seductive trap of pitting one against the other. 7 Is there any reason to consider yourselves better than others? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If you received it as a gift, why do you boast like it is something you achieved on your own?
----- Why do we exalt ourselves? Paul asks many questions in this chapter- is there a reason you consider yourself better than other people? What do you have that you didn't receive? Why do you boast like it is something you achieve on your own? Paul says in verse 18- some of you have put yourselves on pedestals and live like you are high above the rest. That is a long fall down....
God speaks about boasting and bragging over and over and over again in His Word. It is a dangerous trap to fall into. It makes us lose sight of others. It makes us desensitize to the needs of those around us. When we get an inflated view of ourselves (especially in our relationships).. we forget what any one else has done.. what they need... what they desire.
Quotes.
I wanted to share a few quotes I read on Pinterest about boasting and bragging. Sometimes when words fail, quotes speak (at least to me ;)) I hope you enjoy!
--- Watch out for people who are always bragging about who they are. A lion will never have to tell me it is a lion.
---- Boasting and gloating confirms you need the attention from others.
---- Happy people don't go through life collecting recognition. They go through life giving it away.
--- Arrogance requires advertising. Confidence speaks for itself.
---- Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.
What type of person do we want to be?
Do we want to be someone known for constantly talking about ourselves? Our accomplishments? Our skills? Our appearance?
Or do we want to be someone that shines the light of Christ-- and through that light, everything else in our lives is illuminated as well?
Do we want to be someone so concerned with our own self? Making sure OUR giving is noticed? Making sure OUR money is seen? Making sure OUR needs are fulfilled?
Or do we want to be someone concerned with BLESSING others? Someone concerned with PRAISING others? Someone concerned with ENCOURAGING others?
Boasting and bragging... that inflated ego.. it all works to increase ourselves, while those around us are decreasing. This is definitely true in a relationship. If we put our spouses first-- their needs first, their wants first-- there's no room for an ego there-- because our spouse's life is filling that space.
That should be our ultimate goal in life. Our lives should be so concerned with others-- with loving others-- that we have little time to get a warped view of our perfection, of our skills, of our wisdom, of our strengths..
Matthew 23:12 says, "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Voice)
Would we rather God humble us.... or would we rather us learning to humble ourselves in His presence?
I'd choose the latter.
God bless you all today.
No comments:
Post a Comment