But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
— 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
A story is told of an owner of a small foreign car who had begun to irritate his friends by bragging incessantly about his gas mileage. So his friends decided on a way to get some humor out of his boasting, as well as bring it to an end.
Every day, one of them would sneak into the parking lot where the man kept his car and pour a few gallons of gas into the tank. Soon, he was recording amazing gas mileage… boasting of getting as much as 90 miles per gallon! But it was even more fun to watch his reaction when they stopped refilling the tank, and he couldn’t figure out what had happened to his car.
Everyone has their little “brags” they like to tell others, whether it be about the latest deal they got, their grandkid’s perfect report card, or how good they are at a certain skill. And while these can oftentimes be harmless, it’s important to know where the line is between harmless bragging and selfishness.
As believers, our ultimate boast should be in the Lord Jesus Christ. So make sure He’s first and foremost in your life. That way, you can “brag” with a good conscience, knowing that at the end of the day, the most important thing in your life isn’t yours to brag about at all!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would give you a heart of humility, not one that boasts in yourself.
Questions for Thought
How does it make you feel when others talk only about themselves?
If God is the most important thing in your life, how should that change the way you see your own accomplishments?