THE BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE TO BOASTING
We have discussed in previous pages the many ways that religious people will boast about or draw attention to their religious behaviors. They do all this to feel good about themselves and to influence others to think highly of them also. Most will not receive and material rewards for their behaviors, but they will surely receive praise and commendations from fellow religionists who share their religion.
All these behaviors, as we have shown through scripture, are displayed in public for others to see. So being seen and recognized as spiritual, or close to God is the motive for doing religious works. But God does not want his people to hide out in monasteries or caves either. He wants them to be out and about in public, doing business and relationships like any other normal person. He wants them to do whatever they do for his glory and not for personal glory or recognition.
How to let your light shine for God’s glory without bringing glory to yourself is a challenge. Separating yourself from what God does in and through you is hard, but not impossible. Consider these scriptures:
Galatians 5:17-26: For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
COMMENTARY: The works of the flesh all describe characteristics of Old/First Covenant religionists, who, as long as they embody these characteristics, cannot become New Covenant disciples (i.e. kingdom of God).
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.
COMMENTARY: Expressions of pride, arrogance and boasting are expressions of self-conceit. They are also provocative because they are designed to inspire envy in others who do not have what we have. They are all the fruit of religious pride. None of these characteristics are evident in New Covenant disciples (i.e. those who belong to Christ) because they have been crucified (i.e. burned up, destroyed.)
To crucify the flesh means to crucify religious pride and activity.
The fruits of the spirit, on the other hand, are all inner expressions of a pure heart that is only known by God. See Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, Truth for understanding of the fruit of the spirit.
See this link for understanding of fruit.
Isaiah 30:15: For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.
Ephesians 5:1-13: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not associate with them, 8 for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; 13 but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Matthew 12:14-19: But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him. 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all, 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets;
Zechariah 4:1-6: And the angel who talked with me came again, and waked me, like a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps which are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerub’babel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.