How Can The Lord Help Us When We Have A Tendency To Boast?

Some Biblical guidelines for overcoming a tendency to boast:

1. Remember that everything we have comes from the Lord. Paul writes, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (I Cor. 1:31) When you consider how much the Lord has given us we really have little to boast about other than what we have in Christ.

2. No matter how wise, strong, or rich you are, the Lord is giver of every good gift. Jeremiah writes, "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches. But let him who boasts boast about this: that He understands and knows me that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight. (Jer. 9:23,24) Instead of boasting of what you have accomplished, spend your time and energies in telling others of the great riches you have found in Christ’s grace and loving-kindness.

3. Consider how the creator gave everyone life and purpose so every credit is ultimately owed to Him. Jeremiah writes, "But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understand... Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols." (Jer. 10:12,14) Men try to make their creations after their image and think they can take credit for their brilliant creativity. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. The Lord alone gives gifts without adding sorrow to them.

4. Do not fall into the trap of boasting of your possessions, accomplishments or abilities. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Spa. 20:7) Human achievements and abilities are only temporary gifts given by God. Use whatever you have for His purposes and give Him the credit when the job is completed.

5. Remember that what we boast about today may be gone tomorrow. Vanity is a fleeting pleasure that no one can really afford. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. (Prove. 27:1,2)

6. Do not make a big deal out of the accomplishments of people. Paul writes, "No more boasting about men! (I Cor. 3:21) The Lord gave everyone their abilities and the will to carry out His perfect plan.

7. If anyone boasts too much help them remember that every good thing they possess was given to them by God’s gracious hand. Paul writes, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (I Cor. 4:7)

8. Even Godly ministers, Pastors, and teachers have to give credit to the Lord for their motivations to serve the Lord. Paul writes, "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (I Cor. 9:16)

9. It is good to commend people for their love, faith and good works. Paul writes, "For I know your eagerness to help and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Ache were ready to give and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action." (2 Cor. 9:2)

10. We however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us. . . We are not going too far in our boasting as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither did we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. ..For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Cor. 10:13-18)

11. Learn that your strengths and weaknesses can be used for God’s purposes and credit. Paul writes, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor.12:9)

12. Determine to boast in Christ not in your self. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)

13. The most important thing is to freely receive eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins through Christ. For by grace you have been saved - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8,9) No one can ever boast about earning their salvation through good works. No one ever lived a sinless life except Christ Jesus our Lord.