BOASTING.

I have been curious recently as to the topic of boasting. It seems that boasting can either be bad or good, depending upon the manner in which it is done, and what is being boasted upon. We're going to look at these things today, and I'd like to bring forth some observations I have made on a couple of verses.

James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Now whenever I would read this verse, I would think, “Well what's wrong with simply telling someone what you're gonna be doing next year? Also, wouldn't it just be covering up a problem by just simply adding something on to what you were already going to say? (i.e. If the Lord wills....)” But after looking at it, I realize that James is talking about your mindset! If you say, “Well I'm going to go to a city next year and sell some goods and make a profit.” Notice he doesn't state by who’s strength and will that it'll be decided, it's assumed that it's his own. (That's some arrogance right there) Whereas, James is saying that we ought to be mindful of God's will, and put our trust and hope in Christ. Maybe, just maybe He doesn't want us to even go to that city at all! I found In Webster's dictionary; “Boasting, n. Ostentatious (showy) display of personal worth, or actions; a glorying or vaunting (Speech of extravagant self-praise).” We see that this is what James does not want and is trying to prevent.

So boasting is giving glory to yourself, or possibly on another. Now that I have sort of established what boasting is, I'd like to look at what other verses have to say about boasting.

1Corrinthians 5:1-7 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. (2) And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. (3) For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. (4) When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (6) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (7) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

We see that the sin that this man committed in this fellowship is something that even the unbelievers would grimace at! But yet they boast on this! Paul then tells them to get rid of this guy for the sake of the fellowship in order to keep them pure.

1Co 9:15-16 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. (16) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Before this verse, Paul was listing off some rights that we as Christians do have the liberty to take part of. He's also saying that Pastors and Elders should be provided for (see 9:13-14). Paul's point, is that he has not partaken of any of these so that he may boast in the Lord! So that he can say "God took care of me when I was in need." That way he could be a more profound witness to others. THIS is good boasting. Boasting that is founded on God, and that glorifies Him, not sinful man.

You may be thinking, “So what? A little boasting here and there can't be as bad as the Corinthians did. It just feels good to do.” Well let's look at the rest of James 4. (The caps is mine)

James 4:13-17 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (16) As it is, you boast in your arrogance. ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. (17) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

God has given us a conscience for a reason. You KNOW that not giving glory to God is wrong. He deserves it! Shifting that glory onto yourself...? That's even worse!

2Corrinthians 10:17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."