Pride, Spiritual Digest — November 23, 2021 at 3:30 am

Bragging Is Worse Than Incompetence

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May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).

Bragging is Worse than Incompetence

In his novel, “Things Fall Apart,” Chinua Achebe quotes a statement made by the agama lizard that jumped from a high iroko tree (Milicia excelsa). The lizard said: “if no one will praise me, I will praise myself.” Praising oneself or bragging about an accomplishment is exactly what boasting is. In America, we generally say “to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” So boasting means to claim an accomplishment without help from anywhere. This is the pinnacle of pride and arrogance.

The Bible tells us that pride goes before a fall. The book of Galatians has a stinging rebuke to the saints who started the Christian race by faith but at some point reverted to dead works. There is much to boast about if salvation is based on our efforts. We know, however, that no one will be saved by observing the law. It is only through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave that we are saved.

Guilty sinners condemned to die cannot boast about anything. But this is where Jesus Christ comes in and takes my place on the cross. So technically I am crucified and hanging on a cross for my sins. I am ashamed of my sins and the only one that could save me is Jesus Christ. He did it and He is the one that I should praise or boast about.

Let us all boast about Jesus Christ and thank Him for His love.

Author

  • Rev. Sunday Bwanhot

    Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary to America serving with SIM/ECWA. He is an Economist by profession and has worked as a Statistician with Kaduna State Government. He later pioneered and managed the Challenge Press of ECWA in Jos before God’s call to pioneer the Prayer Ministry of ECWA in Jos, Nigeria. In 1993, God called him to Chicago as a missionary and has been serving there since 1995 to date. Currently, he pastors ECWA Chicago which he planted and serves as the Chairman of the ECWA USA District Church Council. Loves being a grandpa of 8 grandchildren and enjoys writing.

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