THE PROBLEM WITH BRAGGING (Is it all about ME?)

JEREMIAH 9:23-24: “This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me — that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Have you ever been tempted to brag? To brag is to say something in a boastful manner. It is to take credit for something and to speak of one’s accomplishments in a way that draws attention to oneself and seeks all the glory. The world and its system are built on a bragging culture. The believer in Jesus Christ needs to take heed and not become boastful.

Have you ever watched an awards show on television? It is a few hours of people bragging about their accomplishments and basking in the praise and adulation of those around them. Acceptance speeches are usually anything but a display of humility and are attempts to bask in momentary glory and further one’s career by showering praise upon others who helped them get to this point.

Many of our church services today have become awards shows on a smaller scale. Our worship teams seek the limelight, our preachers seek the adulation of those gathered to hear them speak, and our volunteers want thanks and recognition for all they do. When one does not get the desired attention, they feel slighted and many times seek another church that will understand and appreciate their great talents and contributions.

(Note:This does not mean we neglect giving honor and sincere appreciation to people for their gifts and contributions toward the cause of Christ and in helping others. Yet, there is a stark difference between Christ-centered honor and appreciation and bragging that desires all the glory for oneself.)

Yes, we all live in a brag-brag world!

Jeremiah, speaking the Word of the Lord to the nation of Judah, warns them (and us) about the pitfalls of bragging. God knows that our human nature is prone to bragging and seeking the adulation of others. So, God permits us to brag, but He cautions us on what we should and should not brag about.

We should never brag about…

• Our wisdom

• Our strength

• Our wealth (accomplishments)

“This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.” Jeremiah 9:23 CSB

Yet, the above is exactly what we do brag about. When we introduce a speaker, we applaud their wisdom and personal accomplishments. When one speaks about their life, they speak about their personal victories and blessings. We judge someone’s spirituality by what they have accomplished and possess. This is exactly what the world does. We are not called to live like the world!

As Jesus followers, children of God, we are called to brag about the following:

• We know the Lord, by grace through faith, through the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ!

• We have experienced His unmerited faithfulness and love in our lives!

• We are being changed every day to become more like Jesus Christ through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit!

“But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me — that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.” Jeremiah 9:24 CSB

Our bragging is transformed in Christ. Our bragging is refocused upon Christ. The emphasis moves from “Me” to “HE”. We are humbled by His great grace and love and know that all we have or ever hope to become is a gift from God. The very breath we breathe each day is the inhaling and exhaling of His grace. All that we know, all that we have the strength to accomplish, all that we possess flows out of this truth.

As we boast in the Lord, we also celebrate what He is doing in our lives and the lives of others. The times we offer praise and adulation for others are not a heaping up of praise upon man. Rather, it is the heaping up of praise to the Lord for the transforming power of His love in our lives and the lives of others. We cannot take any credit for what God has done, is doing, or will do. As we give Him all the glory, people are drawn to Jesus and not to us!

This is the boast, this is the bragging, that gives God glory and leads others to faith in Jesus Christ! This is the bragging that we need to rediscover in our lives and the life of the church!

David discovered the power of bragging on the grace and mercy of God! In his prayer of sincere repentance, David understood that only a life surrendered to God in humility and worship is acceptable to God. It is the surrendered life that will lead a hungry, hurting world to the feet of Jesus and the power of His Cross!

So, David prayed, and we too should pray…

“God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God — God of my salvation — and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”Psalms 51:10-17 CSB

Heavenly Father, teach me how to brag about YOU! Help me to give You all the glory for Your wondrous works of grace through Jesus Christ, my Lord. And, as I brag of Your great grace, mercy, and love, draw others to Jesus so that they, too, may know the joy of Your salvation!

“Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus…

He makes a way where there ain’t no wayRises up from an empty graveAin’t no sinner that He can’t saveLet me tell you ’bout my JesusHis love is strong and His grace is freeAnd the good news is, I know that HeCan do for you what He’s done for meLet me tell you ’bout my JesusAnd let my Jesus change your life

HallelujahHallelujahHallelujah, Amen”

(Anne Wilson, 2022)

In Jesus’ Name!