Boasting and Bragging: What's the Difference?
The words "boasting" and "bragging" and the concept of both words are found throughout the Bible in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Boasting is showing pride and promoting yourself. It takes the glory away from the Lord. If you want to glorify someone, then let it be God and not yourself.
The words are used more than 117 in the Bible. If a person boasts of God and what He has done, it is not sinful. It becomes sinful when a person boasts about himself and talks constantly about what He owns and has done without the help of God. Boasting in oneself is an expression of pride and self-promotion without any humility at all.
Boasting: Definition
The dictionary defines boasting as the act of talking excessively about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities. It is being proud and displaying self-satisfaction over what one has, where he has been, and what he has done. When a person boasts, he becomes self-centered and egotistical.
When a person boasts, he constantly uses the personal pronouns "I, me, my, and mine." He focuses on himself more than on others. In fact, he tends to put others down in order to build himself up. A person who boasts enjoys being the center of attention.
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Improper Boasting
One way to determine if boasting is proper or improper is to determine if the boasting is about God, others, or yourself. If it is about God or others, then it is proper. It the boasting is about yourself, then it is improper.
Here are some examples of improper boasting.
Improper boasting takes the glory away from God who deserves it alone.
Improper boasting puts the focus on one's self and sometimes it can't even be verified.
Improper boasting comes with arrogance. Paul describes the arrogant and boastful as "God-haters" in Romans 1:30.
When improper boasting is involved, it presents an exaggerated account of one's self.
Boasting in oneself is an expression of pride and is improper.
Improper boasting doesn't show humility.
The presence of self-exaltation is the result of improper boasting.
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Proper Boasting
Proper boasting is when one boasts and praises God for what He has done instead of taking the credit for himself. Whenever a person boasts of his own accomplishments, he takes the glory away from God and puts it on himself where it doesn't belong.
To boast about others is proper only when you do not involve yourself. For instance, if you boast of funding your niece's college tuition when she graduates, then you have included yourself in her accomplishment. That is boasting on your part. You should compliment and boast about others without including yourself in the story of their success.
In Jeremiah 9:24, the prophet says the same thing in the Old Testament that Paul says twice in the New Testament about boasting. According to 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." Korah confessed it correctly in Psalm 44:8 when he said, "In God, we make our boast all day long." That is the proper form of boasting.
Proper boasting is encouraging others about their accomplishments and wait for them to boast about you. According to Solomon, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth" (Proverbs 27:2).
Proper boasting in others is a source of encouragement in the body of Christ. In addition to boasting in others, Paul also boasts in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).
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Scriptures About Boasting
If you don't think boasting is a sin, read some of the following scriptures. There are many more in the Bible.
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“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting! (Psalm 75:4)
"How long will these evil people boast?" (Psalm 94:4)
"Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth–a stranger, not your own lips" (Proverbs 27:2) Let other people do the talking about you.
“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31-1 Corinthians 2:1)
"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
"For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting. Because it is God's gift, "no one can boast" ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). James reminds us that all arrogant boasting is evil (James 4:16).
"These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." (Jude 16)
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Bragging: Definition
The dictionary definition of bragging is similar to boasting. However, there is a slight difference. When you are bragging, you are also boasting.
People who brag constantly tell others about the great things they've done. Bragging is showing off verbally. A specific boast can be called a brag. Usually bragging is done in an arrogantly way while boasting may not be done that way.
What Bragging Is All About
The best way to brag about yourself to others is probably not to brag at all. Let other people do the bragging for you. Giving yourself a mental pat on the back for a job well done can help boost your feelings. However, if you consistently talk about your accomplishments, you annoy people and they will begin to avoid you. There are right and wrong ways to let your light shine without annoying people by always bragging about it.
Bragging Among Christians
Bragging is done all the time among Christians. Pastors boast from the pulpit about how many members are in the church and how big their budget is. They even boast about how good they are at preaching and teaching the word of God. They claim they are the best in everything they do.
If you want to hear a lot of boasting in the church, then listen to the testimonies that people give. The testimonies are more about them and little or nothing about Christ.
When Bragging is Bad
Here are several times when bragging is bad.
Bragging is bad when you intentionally make yourself the focus of every conversation by talking about what you have done or intend to do.
Bragging is bad when something you say about yourself can't be verified. When bragging is based on your self-report only, you run the risk of not being believed.
Bragging is bad when you consistently give yourself self-praise.
Bragging is drawing attention to your success with a disclaimer such as "I shouldn’t brag, but…” or “I shouldn’t blow my own trumpet but …” Your disclaimer alerts others to the fact that you know you are bragging. Your disclaimer makes your bragging worse.
When you attempt to impress others by including yourself in someone's accomplishments, you are still bragging. Grandparents are known to brag about their grandchildren by showing pictures and talking about what they have done for their grandchildren. Perhaps a co-worker you mentored got promoted and now you brag about what you did to help.
Sometimes people brag by saying what they can do better than someone one even though they really can't.
Don't brag to hurt others. Putting them down doesn't elevate you.
Source
All About Boasting
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What's Wrong With Bragging?
The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted and they will be humbled. (Isaiah 2:12)
Okay, you have done a good thing. So what's wrong with bragging about it? The major prophet Isaiah tells us that there will come a day when God will punish the proud and those who brag. God says if you exalt yourself, He will humble you.
God explains in Isaiah 2:12-17 how He will bring down those who lift themselves up. God uses the tall and lofty Cedars of Lebanon and the solid oaks of Bashan as examples of how He can bring low what once was high and mighty. God says He will destroy all the tall mountains and the high hills. He will knock down every tall tower and every high, strong wall. He will sink all the trading ships. At that time proud people will stop being proud. They will bow low with shame.
If you exalt yourself today by boasting and bragging, expect to be brought low and put to shame very soon by the God who alone deserves the glory.
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