Is boasting a sin? It can be. For example, when I finally beat my older brother in a family ping-pong tournament after years of failing, I boasted. Maybe even taunted a little. Maybe even

constantly reminded him of it for a few years. All right, so that last part was sin.

But what about this? I tied the OSU campus church record by eating three full meals in one setting at a nearby chicken place. After all, this was, technically, a church function. I was so proud. I still get misty eyed just thinking about it.

Anyway, back to my original question. Is boasting a sin? The Bible has a lot to say about this. It’s true that boasting can be sinful, a manifestation of our pride in ourselves and in our stuff (see Jeremiah 9:23). But the Bible also says there’s a kind of boasting that’s good, and it’s encouraged. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, quoting from Jeremiah 9:24: 

“Therefore, as the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.’” (1 Cor. 1:31 NLT). 

When it comes to the Lord, there are many things we can boast about. But I think Paul

had something more in mind than boasting about true facts about the Lord. Let’s look at the full verse from which Paul quoted: 

“But those who wish to boast 

should boast in this alone:

 that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD 

who demonstrates unfailing love 

and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, 

and that I delight in these things. 

I, the LORD, have spoken!”

If we wish to boast, we should boast that we truly know him and the things that delight him! So how did Paul work this out in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? By centering his walk with Christ with two goals – knowing him and pleasing him. Paul wrote:

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death” 

(Philippians 3:10 NLT).

and

“So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9 NLT).

Suffering with Christ and sharing in his death leads to greater intimacy with Christ, so it’s no accident that Paul included this. While the extent of suffering will differ for each Christian, depending on what service Christ calls them to, we all share the suffering of putting to death our desire to sin. Since Christ suffered and died for our sins, we share in his suffering and death when we suffer and put to death our selfish desires to sin.

Experiencing suffering in our fight to resist the temptation to sin is a real thing, especially because of the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). It can feel like a powerful physical force pulling on us. Although he didn’t sin, Christ himself experienced suffering while resisting temptation (Hebrews 2:18). Because of this experience, we can be confident that he understands our weakness (Hebrews 4:15), and he’ll show us a way out of the temptation. Realistically, we may not always take the way out he provides, so remember this from Psalm 37:23-24:

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the LORD holds them by the hand” (NLT).

Having the lifelong goal to know and please Christ is what Paul was talking about when he wrote to the Corinthians about “pure and undivided devotion to Christ.” So, strive to know the Lord Jesus better and better. Let him know in prayer that you want to do this. There’s just no one like him. He’s more wonderful, kind, faithful, humble, fearless, wise and awesome than I ever in my wildest dreams imagined that God was like before I became a Christian!

And keep striving in his strength to live a life that pleases him. He’ll let you know what he wants you to do, beginning with learning from his Word. Then he’ll lead you to fan into flames the gift he’s given you! (2 Timothy 1:6)