Boasting

Boasting has become something of a favorite past time, especially for us Americans. We casually talk about that new car sitting in our driveway or our big new house, or the promotion we got or how many miles we ran over the weekend.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with running or having a good job or getting a new car. But what happens is our deceptive brains use these things as a way to make us a little higher in the pecking order. We feel a little more superior to the other guy and this makes us feel better about ourselves. In the end it makes us feel more self-reliant. And it's a mistake.

I love what the prophet Jeremiah said about boasting, and it is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
 This is what the Lord says:

The wise must not boast in his wisdom;
the mighty must not boast in his might;
the rich must not boast in his riches.
24 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.

In short, showing off that you know the God of the universe through His Son Jesus Christ is really okay. In fact, God says He "delights" in such things. Boast that you are related to Him (not through any of your own efforts) and boast that you are getting to know Him and what His character is like.

Believe it or not, that in a nutshell is sharing the gospel and that's what we are all here for once we are related to God!

Pastor Tom