Pride and Boasting

Pride is defined as "A high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." We associate pride with arrogance, conceit, smugness, egotism, and self-importance.

Boasting is a fruit of pride. It means: 1) "Singing your own praises" or "tooting your own horn"; 2) to speak with exaggeration and pride, esp. about oneself; 2) to speak of with excessive pride or vanity; 3) vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boasting is usually done in reference to a particular ability or possession.

God teaches us to "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips" (Pr 27:2) Paul wrote: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Rom. 12:3)."

Pride compels some to continually remind others of how important they are. Instead of proudly telling everyone about ourselves and all our accomplishments, we should want to tell everyone about Christ and all His accomplishments. If people are saved, or learn some important truth through our efforts, we should give all the praise and glory to God. Instead of seeking to be first at something (3 John 9), we should want Christ to be first or have preeminence (Col. 1:18). Instead of having everything revolve around us, we should want everything to revolve around Christ.

Jeremiah wrote: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD" (Jer. 9:23-24).

The true wise man is the person who realizes how ignorant he is before a God who is all-knowing and all-wise (Isa. 55:7-9; Rom. 11:33-36). The true mighty man is the person who realizes how weak and needy he is before a God who is almighty and all-powerful (2 Cor. 12:9-10). The true rich man is the person who realizes that he has nothing in himself but everything in Christ (2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9).

The Hebrew word for "praise" is the same word that is translated "boast." Whenever we praise ourselves, we are sinfully boasting. But when we say "Look how great God is" we are exercising our duty in praising him (Ps. 33:1; 147:1).

Jesus said, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matt. 23:12)."

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