Avoids Prideful Boasting

Avoids Prideful Boasting

A HERO’S TALE

In Genesis 37, we are introduced to a spoiled 17-year-old boy named Joseph. His father, Jacob (Abraham’s grandson), loved him more than any of his 11 brothers. Jacob lavished his love on Joseph and paid special attention to him.

This made Joseph’s brothers terribly jealous. They hated Joseph and the special treatment he got from Jacob. To make matters worse, when Joseph was tending Jacob’s sheep with four of his older brothers, “Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing” (Genesis 37:2). Sounds like Joseph might have been a tattletale.

After this, Jacob gave Joseph —and only Joseph —a beautiful, multicolored coat. Joseph’s brothers grew more jealous. Then Joseph decided to share a dream he had with his brothers.

“So in this dream,” he told them, “we were all in the fields tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly, all of your bundles bowed down to my bundle. Pretty cool, huh?”

You can imagine how well that went over with his brothers. But Joseph didn’t stop there. Soon, he told his brothers about a second dream.

“Hey, guys,” he said, “you’ll never believe this, but I had another crazy dream. This time, Dad and Mom were the sun and moon, and you guys were stars. And all of you were bowing down to me again. Go figure!”

Joseph’s brothers were so angry, they threw him in a deep well, sold him to slave traders (who took him to Egypt), and lied to Jacob by telling him that Joseph was dead.

DECODING THE MESSAGE

What Joseph’s brothers did was terrible. But Joseph didn’t help matters any. Even though God gave him those fascinating dreams, Joseph certainly didn’t have to tell his brothers. That was boasting.

Boasting is another word for bragging, or speaking too highly of yourself. And the Bible says that’s wrong.

Sadly, today’s society promotes pride everywhere, especially among our cultural heroes, like movie stars and professional athletes. Have you ever watched an NFL game? It seems like players show off after every single play.

But true biblical heroes are to act differently. Luke 9:48 says, “Whoever is the least among you is the greatest,” and Matthew 20:16 says, “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (NIV). That doesn’t leave any room for boasting about yourself.

True heroes for God stay humble and boast only in their Creator. In other words, they give God credit for anything they do well. After all, he’s the only reason we can do anything at all!

BATTLE PLAN

Write down 5 to 10 things you do well. Then prayerfully boast in the Lord about them, giving him all the glory!