Boasting: Why Its Okay and Even Encouraged
“so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (II Thess. 1:4)
NKJV
Of all the things we are prone to boast about, I’ve learned a couple lessons by the things Paul mentions in this scripture.
First, notice he boasts about someone else.
I think we are so quick to both of ourselves and to highlight the things that we have going on, the ways we are great, and all the good things that are happening with us. But not too often do I see or hear people boasting about someone else.
There are two main benefits to highlighting the good in others:
- One is that it humbles us to speak highly of others.
- And the other is, it also encourages the other person when they hear others speaking highly of them, strengthening them to keep up those good things they are doing.
Also, notice he didn’t gloat about things like their possessions, or their knowledge, or how beautiful they were, or all of these superficial things we sometimes boast about.
But he spoke about their spiritual maturity, their faith, patience, and their ability to endure trials.
See, the thing about boasting is that it sometimes leads to jealousy. And I think that’s why Christ tells us to boast in our weaknesses (2 Corinth. 11:30).
Because when we talk about our own strengths and our own might, and our own accomplishments, two things happen:
- we tend to grow prideful and self-reliant
- but also our boasting may be a stumbling block for others, possibly driving them to sin by jealousy, envy, and wanting what the other person has.
So if boasting has the potential to lead to others wanting the thing being boasted about, how beautiful would it be for us to boast about our spiritual fruits and lead others to want that?
Hearing Paul boast about the Church of Thessalonica and their faith, patience, and perseverance, makes me want that same fruit.
It makes me want to endure someone can say the same things when they speak of me. Not to only superficially displaying those things on the outside for the sake of recognition, but to have those characteristics marked on my heart, in spirit and in truth, that it may be acknowledged by the Holy Spirit.
This is how Paul was able to know these things about that church. Because the Holy Spirit attested to the truth of their fruits.
Prayer:
Father thank You for the fruits of Your Spirit. Help me to embody each of them in spirit and in truth. Not just superficially, not just to seem spiritual, but to wholly encompass all you call me to be. Remind me to boast in my weaknesses, because those are the moments where Your power and Your characteristics are on full display. Thank You Father for Your Word that is still a fresh reminder even today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
