What are the results of bragging?

Genesis 37:5-8One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

Everyone knows when you are bragging, and no one likes it. Bragging usually alienates the very people you are trying to impress. In Joseph’s case, his bragging actually caused his brothers to sin—they wanted to avoid him so badly that they went to terrible lengths to keep him away! Joseph was eventually humbled and became a great man of God, but as a cocky young man, his bragging caused a lot of misery for both himself and his brothers. Joseph wasn’t wrong about what he said, but he failed to appreciate the effect his words had on his family.

Psalm 10:3, 12They brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the Lord. . . . Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God!

Bragging about your sinful thoughts and actions is an affront to God and an act of sheer defiance against his holiness. While it may amuse your friends and listeners, it only proves how foolish you really are. Remember that God is just, and your freedom to do such things will be temporary.

Judges 9:29, 38[Gaal shouted,] “If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!’” . . . Then Zebul turned on him and asked, “Now where is that big mouth of yours? Wasn’t it you that said, ‘Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?’ The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!”

Bragging is obnoxious and often makes enemies. Abimelech was an evil leader, but Gaal should never have bragged that he could easily defeat Abimelech in battle. His obnoxious claims were overheard by the enemy and led to his own defeat. A big head leads to a big mouth, which leads to big trouble.

1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel sent back this answer: “A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”

After the trash-talking and the pep rallies, the game still has to be played. A leader does his best to prepare his troops for battle, but assuming the game is won and the battle victorious beforehand often leads to defeat.

Luke 18:9-14Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Bragging expresses pride; God loves humility. When you brag, you are arranging your own rewards, whereas waiting for others to honor you shows humility. Receiving a trophy you asked for or gave to yourself isn’t much of a reward. But a trophy willingly presented by your peers is a wonderful reward. Even better, a trophy presented by the Lord lasts forever.