Misplaced boasting ∙∙

Misplaced boasting ∙∙

A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won. – 1 Kings 20:11

Romans 15:17-19

17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.
18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.

19 They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ.

In basketball, the NBA tracks statistics for both baskets and assists. Baskets, also known as field goals, are scoring moments where a player earns two or three points by successfully getting the ball through the hoop.

Often, players don’t score baskets entirely on their own. Teammates contribute to the scoring by assisting—passing the ball to the player who ultimately makes the basket. The NBA defines an assist as a pass that directly leads to a score.

Throughout the history of the game, only seven players have scored over 30,000 points: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), LeBron James (38,290), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560), and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419). Meanwhile, only one player, John Stockton, has recorded over 15,000 assists (15,806).

Does that mean the rest of the NBA players were slackers? Hardly! Some of us, after all, are a bit height-challenged and haven’t scored a single basket.

While the Father likely isn’t concerned with NBA stats, He is deeply invested in how the children of the King work to spread His message and grow His kingdom.

So, who gets the credit?

In the first century, Paul achieved incredible things in service to the Father. He traveled extensively, taught, and preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Through his efforts, countless Gentiles came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. From a human perspective, Paul had every reason to boast about his accomplishments. Yet, he recognized that it was the Father working through him who deserved the credit. Paul’s boasting was solely about the Father and what He had accomplished.

It leaves me wondering: who scored, and who assisted?

REFLECT & PRAY

Some truths from the Father are sweet, like delightful morsels that melt in your mouth. But others hit hard—like a ton of bricks. Realizing how easily we fall into boasting can feel like one of those bricks.

Father, I want nothing more than to be a vessel used to do Your will.

INSIGHT

Jeremiah warns us about boasting prematurely. It’s common for people to build themselves up—whether on a sports field or a battlefield. Today, we call it trash-talk. A soldier might boast about their courage before stepping into battle, but words don’t prove real bravery. It’s seen in action, in surviving the fight and enduring the hardship. If Jeremiah spoke today, he might simply say, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

Paul was given a mission, and he successfully fulfilled it. Given all he accomplished, he had every right by human standards to say, “I did it; mission accomplished.” But Paul didn’t go that route. What he did do, however, is a lesson for us all and an example to follow.

There’s a remarkable partnership between the Father and His servants. The children of the King are His hands and feet—the instruments He uses to share His message with the world. God works through our minds, personalities, experiences, and mouths to convey his message to the world. However, it is His wisdom and power that energizes everything we do.

Imagine if the Father were to examine your heart and reveal how often you slip into boasting. When the Father peeled back the layers of Paul’s heart in Romans 15, what He revealed was Paul’s character—his humility and integrity. Paul understood his role clearly. He was just a tool in the hand of God. He didn’t brag about his achievements or seek glory for himself. Instead, Paul marveled at how the Father had chosen to work through him to accomplish His purpose.

When we start focusing on ourselves and all we’ve done, we cross a dangerous line. Instead, we must shift our perspective. The focus should be on what the Father accomplished through us. When we approach life this way, we follow Paul’s example—and we get it right.

What is boasting? The Greek word, which is translated as “boast,” is kauchaomai. This word generally means to “boast,” to “brag,” or to “take pride in something.” Boasting, in itself, is neutral. It can have both positive and negative connotations. It all depends upon who is boasting and what is being boasted about.

In a bad sense, it refers to taking pride in oneself and becoming a braggart. It is all about me! Bad boasting is self-centered. Bad boasting is often nothing more than self-aggrandizement and self-marketing. Paul knows that such self-flattery is dangerous. In a good sense, boasting is all about acknowledging the Father’s worth and expressing confidence in Him. It is all about Him! Good boasting is God-centered.

1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”

How Should We Boast?

Look at Paul’s example. He gave all the glory to the Father. Every task Paul accomplished started and ended with God. The results were God’s, not Paul’s.

Paul himself says in Romans 15:18, “I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me.”

Think about the Little League player who swings with all his might and barely taps the ball. It dribbles toward the pitcher, who fumbles and throws it wild. The batter dashes around the bases as the ball gets tossed over heads and into the outfield. He makes it home while smiling from ear to ear. “That’s my first home run!” he exclaims. But was it really his home run? Or was it the result of a series of mistakes and mishaps? Like that child, it’s easy for us to take credit for outcomes that aren’t entirely ours. But Paul reminds us—we shouldn’t boast about ourselves. If we boast, it should only be about the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

The temptation to boast is part of our sinful nature. But how we handle that temptation matters. Worse than boasting about our sin is tolerating it—downplaying, excusing, or even celebrating it. The Corinthians fell into this trap. Instead of calling out sin, they boasted about their tolerance. But Paul confronted them directly, saying, “Your boasting about this is terrible” (1 Corinthians 5:6).

The Corinthians had grievous sin in their midst. But they did not call out sin as sin? The Corinthians compensated instead. Rather than condemning it, they found excuses for it. Sin needs to be dealt with overtly. Sin needs to be called out for what it is and dealt with. Overlooking it only leads to greater harm.

Are you guilty of boasting abuse? When you reflect on your heart, what do you see? Do you give credit where it’s due—to the Father? And when you see boasting or sin in others, are you willing to confront it with love and truth?

The Father’s truth can be hard to face, but it’s always what we need to grow to maturity in our faith. May we follow Paul’s example, choosing humility and giving all glory to God.

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© Dr. H 2025