There are
days when I feel like our culture is dripping with arrogance. I hear students
talk about how dumb their parents are as they puff themselves up. Many feel as
if they know everything and adults are clueless (I’m sure I felt that way as a
teenager, too). Even the television programs today depict adults as ignorant,
and put children up on an all-knowing pedestal. One guy boasted about his
intellect telling me how great he is for a full ten minutes.
James tells
us that boasting is evil (4:16). I don’t know about you, but I have much more
respect and admiration for those who let others “toot their horn” versus those
who “toot their own.”
We all fall
into this trap at times. The truth is we are consumed with ourselves. The
quote, “I’m not much, but I’m all I think about” is so true. The danger is that
we often see ourselves in a distorted mirror.
Many times
our boasting says more about who we really are than about how “great” we are.
It shouts out INSECURITY! Instead of trying to build our self-esteem by
bragging about ourselves, we need to find our identity in Christ. We are loved
with an extravagant love, not because of what we’ve done, but because of Who He
is.
May we all
guard against the sin of pride and boastfulness. Anything good in us is a gift
from the Lord. If we must boast, let us boast in the Lord!