Best Not to Boast

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 10:15-16, And Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you.” 16 So Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said.

Saul’s beginnings as the first king of Israel were humble beginnings. What we see happen to Saul is what happens to many of us when God launches us on a path to success, which can easily end in failure if we do not keep our pride at bay. We start out thankful and humble for the undeserved opportunities, but not long afterwards we begin to think more of ourselves than we should, which the Word of God warns against (Romans 12; Galatians 6). Saul could have very easily taken the opportunity to boast about what was about to take place in his life. He could have attributed his success to his stature and appearance. He could have thought himself better than all the rest, since he was chosen, by God, over everyone else. Had he done that, he would have definitely started out on the wrong foot and placed himself in a dangerous place right from the outset. In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” When we think of idle words, we often think of profanity. In doing so, we give little thought to the fact that bragging and boasting are also idle words that are filled with pride. By keeping silent about what was going to take place in his being crowned king, Saul made a wise and humble decision. When we boast about what has not yet taken place, James tells us that this boasting is arrogant and evil (James 4:13-16). How often have we heard someone bragging about what God is doing in their life and what they are going to do for God? How often have we found ourselves in the same position and used a time of giving testimony to boast about what we did, and sprinkled a little God on it? How often have there been plans for something big that was in the works, and we could not resist bragging about the role we will play in getting these things going and what role we will play once the dust settles? The one thing we forget is that life is unpredictable, and the only one who knows exactly what tomorrow will bring is God. That is why James warned against boasting about tomorrow without counting on the Lord’s will (James 4). Matshona Dhliwayo said, “If you show off do not get upset when God doesn’t show up.” Many things can happen to our plans, even those we feel are God’s plan for our lives, that can sidetrack our progress. Even when God has plans for our lives, we do not always know His timing. In the end, we look like fools when we brag about “this and that”, but the time comes and goes, and nothing happens. Like Saul, it is best to remain silent and let God do whatever it is God is going to do, in His time. Proverbs 27:1-2 gives great advice when it comes to having wisdom in knowing when to speak and when to be silent; it says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Saul chose to let what Samuel told him play out as God desired for it to play out. We can learn a valuable lesson from that example. It is far better to let God use someone else to boast on our behalf and be elevated, than to steal God’s glory and put ourselves up on a pedestal that we can be knocked down from. Jesus put it best when He said this in Luke 14:8-11, “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).