Boasting – A Product of Pride

by Robert Waters

While it may not always be easy to determine what is boasting and what is simply a harmless statement of fact regarding accomplishments, boasting generally is a result of pride, which is sinful. (See excerpts from an excellent article on pride at the end of this post.)

boasteth great things.3166
G3166
μεγαλαυχέω
megalaucheō
Thayer Definition:
1) to be grandiloquent
2) to boast great things, to bear one’s self loftily in speech or action

Below are some excellent comments by some of my favorite commentaries:

Matthew Henry

Rom 12:3-8 - Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us. But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest, under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.

Barnes

Not to think - Not to over-estimate himself, or to think more of himself than he ought to. What is the true standard by which we ought to estimate ourselves he immediately adds. This is a caution against pride; and an exhortation not to judge of ourselves by our talents, wealth, or function, but to form another standard of judging of ourselves, by our Christian character.” “There is no sin to which people are more prone than an inordinate self-valuation and pride. Instead of judging by what constitutes true excellence of character, they pride themselves on that which is of no intrinsic value; on rank, and titles, and external accomplishments; or on talents, learning, or wealth. The only true standard of character pertains to the principles of action, or to that which constitutes the moral nature of the man; and to that the apostle calls the Roman people.

But to think soberly - Literally, “to think so as to act soberly or wisely.” So to estimate ourselves as to act or demean ourselves wisely, prudently, modestly. Those who over-estimate themselves are proud, haughty, foolish in their deportment. Those who think of themselves as they ought, are modest, sober, prudent. There is no way to maintain a wise and proper conduct so certain, as to form a humble and modest estimate of our own character.

According as God hath dealt - As God has measured to each one, or apportioned to each one. In this place the faith which Christians have, is traced to God as its giver. This act, that God has given it, will be itself one of the most effectual promoters of humility and right feeling. People commonly regard the objects on which they pride themselves as things of their own creation, or as depending on themselves. But let an object be regarded as the gift of God, and it ceases to excite pride, and the feeling is at once changed into gratitude. He, therefore, who regards God as the source of all blessings, and he only, will be an humble man.

The measure of faith - The word “faith” here is evidently put for religion, or Christianity. Faith is a main thing in religion. It constitutes its first demand, and the Christian religion, therefore, is characterized by its faith, or its confidence, in God; see Mar_16:17; compare Heb. 11; Rom. 4. We are not, therefore, to be elated in our view of ourselves; we are not to judge of our own characters by wealth, or talent, or learning, but by our attachment to God, and by the influence of faith on our minds. The meaning is, judge yourselves, or estimate yourselves, by your piety. The propriety of this rule is apparent:
(1) Because no other standard is a correct one, or one of value. Our talent, learning, rank, or wealth, is a very improper rule by which to estimate ourselves. All may be wholly unconnected with moral worth; and the worst as well as the best people may possess them.
(2) God will judge us in the day of judgment by our attachment to Christ and his cause Matt. 25; and that is the true standard by which to estimate ourselves here.
(3) nothing else will secure and promote humility but this. All other things may produce or promote pride, but this will effectually secure humility. The fact that God has given all that we have; the fact that the poor and obscure may have as true an elevation of character as ourselves; the consciousness of our own imperfections and short-comings in the Christian faith; and the certainty that we are soon to be arraigned to try this great question, whether we have evidence that we are the friends of God; will all tend to promote humbleness of mind and to bring down our usual inordinate self-estimation. If all Christians judged themselves in this way, it would remove at once no small part of the pride of station and of life from the world, and would produce deep attachment for those who are blessed with the faith of the gospel, though they may be unadorned by any of the wealth or trappings which now promote pride and distinctions among men.

GIL

but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith: such ought to consider that what gifts, abilities, light, and knowledge they have, they have then, not of themselves, but from God; that they have not all faith, and all knowledge, or do not know the whole of the faith of the Gospel only a measure of it, which is dealt out, divided, and parted to every man, some having a greater degree of evangelical light than others; and that all have some, but none all. The Syriac version renders it, "faith in measure"; one of Stephens's copies reads, "the measure of grace"; see Eph 4:7.

I did an Internet search for material on pride but amazingly found very little. The one excellent article I did find was written by a Lutheran Pastor. The article dealt with both humility and pride so it was a bit lengthy. Therefore, I shall quote only parts of the article: If you wish to see the entire article you will find the URL at the end of the material quoted below:

"What Christian does not know that pride is a sinful and dangerous thing? Though they might not be able to give chapter and verse, many Christians can quote Proverbs 18:12, “Pride goes before a fall, but humility comes before honor.” Prideful eyes are one of seven abominations that God hates, according to Proverbs 6. And both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 quote Proverbs 29:3-4, which says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the to humble.” Christians know well that pride is bad and humility is good. But what is the pride that God condemns? Pride is thinking you are more important than others, better than others, or above others because of your name, your accomplishments, your gifts, your looks, your knowledge, or your wealth. You are not being prideful when you strive to be the best at what you do. You are not being prideful by merely recognizing that you are better at something than someone else (Paul recognized that he worked harder than all the other apostles; see 1 Co 15:9-10). You are being prideful, though, when you think that because of your superior gifts or accomplishments or name or knowledge, other people are beneath you, and, therefore, are not deserving of your attention, your time, or your respect. Pride means having an overly inflated sense of your own importance. Scripture captures this idea when it says, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Co 8:1). So does the expression, “He’s sure full of himself.” Anyone can fall into such pride at anytime, which is why Scripture so often warns against it. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment” (Rom 12:3), warns Paul. He reiterates the same thought in his letter to the Galatians: “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal 6:3). When pride happens among Christians it is quite ridiculous. Paul faced this especially in the Corinthian church. Some members of that church, who considered themselves more spiritual, or gifted, or knowledgeable, looked down on others who lacked these things. Paul highlighted the ridiculousness of this attitude when he wrote, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it” (1 Co 4:7). Their spiritual gifts and knowledge were pure gifts from God, not something that they had produced by their hard work. Therefore, how ridiculous it was to boast about such things! There are many symptoms of a prideful heart. One is the way a prideful person reacts to criticism. No one likes criticism, of course. But the prideful person becomes deeply offended by criticism, and takes a “who are you to criticize me” attitude. Bragging is probably the best known symptom of a prideful heart, though it is just as often a symptom of an insecure heart. Mohammed Ali was the quintessential bragger, constantly spouting, “I’m the greatest.” Meanwhile quiet Joe Frazier beat him two times for the heavyweight crown. There are other symptoms of pride. You know you are prideful when you become offended when people don’t give you the attention, respect, or honor you think you deserve. “Don’t they know who I am” is a prideful heart speaking. You also know you are prideful when you think that certain work is beneath your dignity and refuse to do it. But a word of warning. Remember pride is an attitude of the heart. You can’t judge whether someone is prideful by the expression on their face or even their manner. A person can look very cocky, but in fact be quite humble. A person can look and act very humble, but inside be a raging egomaniac. A cocky expression is sometimes a defense mechanism that insecure people use to protect themselves from being hurt. But let us not lose sight of the most important point. Pride is not merely one annoying little fault among many annoying little faults. God calls pride an abomination because it so easily separates us from him for eternity. It is a dangerous evil. But you say, “What is so harmful about a little bragging.” But the heart of pride is not bragging. Pride leads to two great evils. One is self-righteousness. The other is idolatry. When pride is mixed with religion, self-righteousness is the result. A person is self-righteous when they depend on themselves and their own spiritual performance to achieve righteousness (acceptance by God, innocence, perfection). They become self-sufficient, thinking that all they need is their own effort to be saved. Now in the secular sphere, self-sufficiency is a very good thing. It is sinful to become unnecessarily dependent on others. But in the spiritual realm, when speaking of our relationship with God, self-sufficiency is a disaster that leads one to hell. When it comes to God and his salvation, everything depends on what you depend. Pride leads one to depend on himself. But the Gospel teaches us to depend only on God’s grace in Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9) “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Gal 5:4)."