A strong young man at a construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen.
After several minutes, the older worker had had enough.
“Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?” he said. “I’ll bet a week’s wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you won’t be able to wheel back.”
“You’re on, old man,” the young worker replied.
The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then he turned to the young man and said, “All right. Get in.”
Bragging not only damages our relationships and diminishes others’ respect for us, but it often comes back to embarrass and humble us.
“Love does not brag,” Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 13:4
In keeping with our theme, Love More, Give More, we resume a series on the great love chapter, noting each of the 15 characteristics of love. Some are positive, some stated negatively.
The word translated brag, perpereuetai, literally means “to parade oneself, to exaggerate achievements.”
The 1611 King James Version translates this “love vaunteth not itself. Various translations capture this idea beautifully. Love does not…
- “Does not parade itself,” NKJV
- “Does not brag,” NASU
- “Does not boast,” NIV
- “Love doesn’t strut,” The Message
William Barclay correctly observes that “Love is no braggart. There is a self-effacing quality in love. True love will always be far more impressed with its own unworthiness than its own merit.”
Commentator Albert Barnes observed that boasting springs from a sense of superiority, causing us to look down on others with contempt rather than genuine concern. He succinctly says, “love would correct this, because it would produce a desire that they should be happy.” And listening to a braggart makes no one happy!
Simply put, love doesn’t need applause or recognition.
In addition to creating a negative atmosphere, bragging discourages others through constant self-promotion, creates distance in relationships, and breeds envy, jealousy, and resentment.
The Bible offers several reasons why bragging is wrong
• It glorifies self instead of God (1 Cor.1:31).
• It springs from pride, which God opposes (Jas. 4:6).
• It is inconsistent with the spirit of Christ, who humbled Himself (Phil. 2:5-8).
• It seeks human praise rather than God’s approval (Jn 12:43).
• It fails to put others first (Phil. 2:3-4).
Paul is not suggesting that we deny our God-given talents or pretend our accomplishments don’t exist. Rather, he warns against flaunting them to elevate ourselves while diminishing others.
Some people perform acts of kindness simply to be noticed or admired. Genuine love is different. It gives quietly, seeking the good of others rather than recognition for itself.
Love serves quietly without self-promotion. It is modestly accepting good success without boast or empty bluster.
In the church family, a volunteer serves faithfully but never draws attention to their sacrifices.
In the workplace, a team member lets others receive credit rather than highlighting their own role.
In the home, family members avoid boasting about their own accomplishments or importance, choosing instead to honor one another.
Additionally, it is possible, as the late American publisher and writer William Feather suggested, “Bragging is often merely another form of complaining—complaining that others don’t appreciate us enough.”
Regardless of the motive, be advised that while bragging may impress the speaker, it rarely impresses the listener.
You’ve heard the quip, “It isn’t bragging if you can back it up.” Actually, it is.
If we are truly going to Love More and Give More, we’ll spend less time talking about ourselves and more time lifting up others. After all, as Paul simply reminds us, “love does not boast.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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