What Does The Bible Say About Boasting And Bragging?
Boasting and bragging refer to the act of talking excessively or immodestly about oneself and one’s achievements or possessions. The Bible has several passages that address the issue of boasting and warn against it.
Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” This verse is emphasizing that pride and a haughty or arrogant spirit can lead to one’s downfall. It is warning against the dangers of being boastful and thinking one is above others. It is encouraging humility and cautioning against overestimating one’s abilities or worth.
In Proverbs 27:2, it states “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” This verse emphasizes the importance of humility and the danger of self-praise. It suggests that true praise should come from others, rather than from oneself.
In James 4:16, it states “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” This verse highlights the sinfulness of boasting and the pride that often accompanies it. It suggests that boasting is a form of arrogance, which is in opposition to the humility that God desires.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4, it states “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” This verse highlights that boasting is not a part of true love. The passage goes on to explain that boasting is a sign of envy, which is not a characteristic of true love.
In 1 Corinthians 1:31, it states “so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’.” This verse suggests that true boasting should be directed towards God and his accomplishments, not towards oneself. It encourages believers to focus on God’s work in their lives and to give him the glory for their achievements.
In addition to these passages, the Bible also teaches that true greatness comes from humility. For example, in Matthew 23:12, Jesus says, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This passage teaches that humility is key to true greatness, and that boasting and bragging will ultimately lead to humility.
In summary, the Bible teaches that boasting and bragging are wrong because they promote pride and self-exaltation, rather than humility and a focus on God. The Bible encourages individuals to be modest and humble, giving credit and glory to God for their accomplishments.