Social
media has made today’s world so full of bragging that it’s hard to tell the
difference between people simply sharing good stuff in their lives, and people
exercising arrogance. Dr. Samantha
Rodman talks about six ways that moms brag about their kids:
1. The Obvious Brag.
“James runs so fast that the coach said he’ll be a shoo-in for college
track!”
2. The Subtle Brag.
“Ella isn’t that great at school, [besides her A’s,] she got two B’s
this term.”
3. The Vicarious Brag.
“Ivy got asked to the prom by three different guys. I remember when that
happened to me!”
4. The Unique Snowflake Brag.
“Jonathan has five different species of bugs in jars in his room. That
boy is a budding entomologist if I ever saw one!”
5. The Heart Of Gold Brag.
“Pia insisted that the family spend Thanksgiving building homeless
shelters in Mumbai this year. That girl, wow.”
6. The Brag About Your Own Kid.
“Fiona just killed it at the orchestra performance. I guess that my
flautist genes carried on, or possibly the fact that I’ve encouraged her to
practice—lovingly and totally not in a Tiger Mom way—every night since she was
7.”[i]
The truth is that everybody catches themselves
bragging now and then. The Bible has a
lot to say about bragging and the sin of pride.
It's important to recognize pride in ourselves because
it can have some very dire consequences.
The book of Proverbs warns about this problem, saying, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty
spirit before a fall (16:18[ii]).” Here are several outgrowths of pride,
that Proverbs warns against:[G1] [G2]
1. Listening to Yourself First. Proverbs 18:12-13 says, “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” A lot of people spend more time talking in a conversation than they spend asking questions and listening. This shows pride because it puts yourself first. The result is that you don't learn. [G3]
2. Taking the Best, First. Proverbs 25:6-7 says, “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, ‘Come up here,’ than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” Jesus echoes this in Luke 14:8-11: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
3. Bragging About the Future. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” I knew a man who used to brag about how much money he was “on track” to make—without him even making it. Jesus’ brother James expands on how arrogant this is: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).”
4. Putting Your Comfort or Success First. Now, we’re touching a sore spot, because this is the American way. But Proverbs 16:19 says, “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” If putting yourself first means stepping on other people, God calls that sin, even if it’s the way the world works.
5. Praising Yourself. Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” And even when it’s somebody else who praises you, be careful—because the way you handle other people’s praise says a lot about you. Proverbs 27:21 says, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.” When you receive praise from others, don’t exercise false modesty. Don’t say “aw, shucks,” or turn it away. But don’t glory in it, either. Simply say, “Thank you.”
6. Gloating. Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.” Remember, God doesn’t play favorites (Romans 2:11). Gloating presumes you’re in a position that you might not possess—so just be careful, or you might be next!
7. Putting Your Trust in Yourself. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.” The Bible warns not to trust in yourself overmuch, but to place your trust in God.
Aesop told a fable about
two roosters fighting for dominance in the farmyard. “Finally, one was vanquished and he went and
hid himself in a corner of the hen-house. Defeated by Pride The victor flew up
to the roof of the barn and begin to crow, ‘I’ve won, I’ve won!’ An eagle
swooped down and carried him away and the rooster that had been defeated suddenly
found himself unchallenged master of the farmyard.”[iii] The Book of Proverbs reinforces this truth
when it reminds us, “Pride goes before
destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (16:18).” I pray you’ll think before you crow, and that
you’ll remember, “God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6).”
[i]
Rodman, Dr. Samantha. 6 Ways Moms Brag
About Their Kids. Edited from the
original: https://www.kveller.com/6-ways-moms-brag-about-their-kids/. September 4, 2018.
[ii]
Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV.
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