It's Never Okay To Toot Your Own Horn (Even If You Can Back It Up)
Is it okay to praise yourself? To boast? To brag? Is it okay to exclaim, "I'm a beast! I'm the greatest! I'm the best in the world! I'm going to dominate you!" Statements like these are common in the world of sports, but I'm hearing them more and more from non-athletes in everyday life -- church, work, home, etc.
Some people make the argument that it is not bragging or boasting if it is true. I think this originates from Muhammad Ali, one of the biggest braggarts of all time, who said, "It's not bragging if you can back it up." I guess for these people it is acceptable to praise yourself as long as you are not lying.
But from a Biblical perspective it is never appropriate to praise yourself (Prov 27:2). Instead we are called to praise the Lord (1 Peter 2:9). It is evil to toot your own horn, or to boast about what you have done or will do (James 4:13-16). It's never acceptable behavior to boast in ourselves, even if it is true (Jer 9:23-24). We must only boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31). We must not be conceited, but be humble and thankful (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 4:6), recognizing that our achievements are only possible by God's grace and with the help of others. In fact, God hates arrogance (Prov 6:16-17), and He promises to humble the proud (Matthew 23:12). On the other hand, God promises to exalt those who humble themselves (James 4:10). As Christians, we don't go around bragging about our greatness, but God's (Psalm 34:3; Psalm 104:1). We live for the glory of God, and so we give God the credit for anything good that He accomplishes through us (1 Cor 10:31; Is 26:8).
And it turns out that God is not the only one who hates arrogance. Deep down we all know boasting is wrong. We know there is something wrong with a person who sings their own praises. They might make for good entertainment, but we also know their arrogance is obnoxious. Nobody wants to live with a person like that. This is why so many people were relieved to see Ronda Rousey lose to a humble, gracious, soft-spoken person like Holly Holm, and why so many people love to hate LeBron and are happy to see somebody like Stephen Curry steal the attention of the NBA -- a young man who points to Jesus after every made bucket.
Christian, beware of celebrities who seem to be their own biggest fans, lest you or you kids follow their example of arrogance. Instead, live to make Jesus famous. Live to make His name known, not your own. Don't praise yourself -- let others praise you, and let your actions do the talking for you. And then when you are praised, give God the credit and point the spotlight on Him. And there's no better example of how to live like this than Jesus (Philippians 2:5-9).
Some people make the argument that it is not bragging or boasting if it is true. I think this originates from Muhammad Ali, one of the biggest braggarts of all time, who said, "It's not bragging if you can back it up." I guess for these people it is acceptable to praise yourself as long as you are not lying.
But from a Biblical perspective it is never appropriate to praise yourself (Prov 27:2). Instead we are called to praise the Lord (1 Peter 2:9). It is evil to toot your own horn, or to boast about what you have done or will do (James 4:13-16). It's never acceptable behavior to boast in ourselves, even if it is true (Jer 9:23-24). We must only boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31). We must not be conceited, but be humble and thankful (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 4:6), recognizing that our achievements are only possible by God's grace and with the help of others. In fact, God hates arrogance (Prov 6:16-17), and He promises to humble the proud (Matthew 23:12). On the other hand, God promises to exalt those who humble themselves (James 4:10). As Christians, we don't go around bragging about our greatness, but God's (Psalm 34:3; Psalm 104:1). We live for the glory of God, and so we give God the credit for anything good that He accomplishes through us (1 Cor 10:31; Is 26:8).
And it turns out that God is not the only one who hates arrogance. Deep down we all know boasting is wrong. We know there is something wrong with a person who sings their own praises. They might make for good entertainment, but we also know their arrogance is obnoxious. Nobody wants to live with a person like that. This is why so many people were relieved to see Ronda Rousey lose to a humble, gracious, soft-spoken person like Holly Holm, and why so many people love to hate LeBron and are happy to see somebody like Stephen Curry steal the attention of the NBA -- a young man who points to Jesus after every made bucket.
Christian, beware of celebrities who seem to be their own biggest fans, lest you or you kids follow their example of arrogance. Instead, live to make Jesus famous. Live to make His name known, not your own. Don't praise yourself -- let others praise you, and let your actions do the talking for you. And then when you are praised, give God the credit and point the spotlight on Him. And there's no better example of how to live like this than Jesus (Philippians 2:5-9).
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