What does it mean to boast in something? The definition of boast is as follows: to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities. It is to brag or glory in something. All of us brag at one time or another; we brag about our kids, our spouses, our homes, our church families, but at the root, the core, of the word boast is PRIDE. I do not know about you, but I am sitting here thinking, “Oh, pride, not you again.” Pride seems to be involved in everything! At the center of all our sin, I believe anyway, is that self-seeking, self-boasting, pushy, monster PRIDE!
Having pride in something is not necessarily wrong. It all depends on how it’s used and the motive behind it. Today’s lesson starts in Romans 2:17-24, and I am going to tie it in with Romans 3:1-2. We are going to look at the many privileges God had given to the Jewish nation and how they responded to receiving them.
What did the Jews do with the privileges or benefits from God?
Let’s go back into chapter 2 of Romans and recap some of what Paul is teaching. I believe it flows right into verses 1&2 of Romans 3.
“But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.”
The Jews had been given the great privilege and responsibility to teach the nations about God, which if the Jews had boasted in the work of God instead of turning it around and boasted in their privileges, they would have brought glory and honor to God. But instead, the scriptures say, “The name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles.”
They boasted in their accomplishments and works instead of the God!
” For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you or chose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the and of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8
In God’s Sovereignty, in His secret counsel, he chose the Jews for no other reason but that He loved them. It was not because they were a mighty nation; it was not because they loved Him; it was not because they were good. It was because He set His affection on them, and as the text says, “He made an oath with their forefathers.”
The Jews(some of the Jews) took these privileges and boasted in them. They turned the grace of God around and pointed it at themselves instead of given God the glory. There boasting and their glory was in themselves what they had “accomplished” by doing the works of the Law! This practice is deadly! Our works do not save us.
In Romans 2:17, we read these words:
Gentile, You are Not off the Hook!
Up to this point, we have been referencing the Jew. In the text, Paul is talking to the Jew. As we all know, all of the Scripture is written for our instruction. We need to look at what Paul is saying to the Jew, and ask ourselves, does this apply to me?
God entrusted His oracles to the Jewish nation, but He now entrusts them to us, the Gentile. What are we going to do with them? Are we going to turn these privileges around and boast in our own efforts and forget that all things come from God.
- If we have a job God supplied it.
- If we have a home and transportation, God supplied it.
- If we have wisdom and knowledge, God supplied it.
- If we have anything at all, God supplied it.
If we have salvation, if we are a believer, it is because God supplied it! He bestows His grace on us because He loved us. Not because we are mighty or strong or because we loved Him. The Scriptures teach that we love Him because He first loved us!
What Are We to Boast in?
“He who boasts Is to boast in the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 10:17
” Thus says the LORD, ” Let not the wise man boast of is wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not a rich man boast in his riches; but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
The only thing any human being can boast in or should boast in is the LORD!
Then what advantage has the Jew?
Paul answers this question by saying, “Great in every respect. First of all, you were entrusted with the oracles of God.” There was a great advantage for the Jew; they were entrusted with the very oracles, precepts, and teachings of God. God revealed Himself to them! He showed them His love, mercy, and compassion. He saved them from the hand of the pharaoh and brought them out into a land flowing with milk and honey! They had a Great advantage!
The great advantage is God Himself!
Do you find yourself boasting in yourself? Please, do not run away, because I can do the same.
I pray that God puts in our mouths praise and boasting in Him!
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES
Why is it That Important to Memorize Scripture
Why I recommend the New Inductive Study Bible
I want to Know You… Studying the Attributes of God
Six Important Questions to Ask When You Study the Bible
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Hey Lisa,
What a great word – to boast in the Lord! Oh, it’s so easy to boast in ourselves, but your post is such a great reminder to boast in the Lord! Love it!
I shared your post here: https://www.pinterest.com/melredd/blogs-encouraging-blogs-and-websites/
I was “parked” by you today on Soul Survivor, and I’m glad to get to read your post.
Hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
You are so right it is so easy to boast in ourselves and forget that everything is about God! Thank you so much for the share and your kind words!! Glad you visited neighbor! God Bless:)
Amen! I totally agree with this one! I have written something similar to this in one of my latest posts. It’s tempting to get the glory for our toils when we should give back the glory to God alone. Amen!
Yes, Nance it is easy to want to get the glory for ourselves! I need reminded to always turn my focus to Him and not back to me! I would love to read your post!Please send me a link! Thanks for your kind words and sharing today!
Thanks a lot. 🙂 Here you go. Point #4.
Your Welcome!!
You are so right! Pride is such an insidious thing. The minute I think I’ve conquered it, I realize how prideful that thought even was, LOL. I do know that God has used some pretty mundane things to show me how to boast in him and understand true humility. Dirty underwear, puke on the carpet, tomato plants. He takes tiny moments in my life and shows me His fantastic works. My home has become a tremendously different place thanks to my learning humility.
Praising Him Jennifer because He teaches us what it means to be humble in Him. Yes, He does it in the mundane and in the most unexpected ways! All of our homes would Be much different if we all practiced boasting in Him instead of our own accomplishments. Praising God with you in the change in your home! I am glad you visited today:)
Very convicting. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you Tawny! Your welcome. Thanks for sharing your kind words today:)
Sorry,Tawni, I misspelled your name!
Such a good reminder! We need to always boast IN the Lord, not in ourselves! Truth!
Yes, Truth! Only boast in Him not in ourselves or man!
What a great post…so much here to think on. I like the idea of your study too, so I shall have to come back…I’ve saved your site!
Thank you Helen!! I am excited you saved the site! We have two more weeks in Romans part 1. We will be starting Romans part 2 after Thanksgiving! I am super excited to keep going! Thanks again for your kind words! God Bless:)
oh, my pastor has reminded me of that one a few times
Great pastor if he reminds! I need reminding often:)
What are some practical examples of “boasting in the LORD”? I’ve wondered this before. Should I go around giving testimony? I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Lauren, RunHoly.com
Our jobs, homes, cars… etc, would be the practical way of boasting in God. Everything we have, everything we are is through His amazing grace!Yes, go around giving testimony. What I mean is every time God gives a chance boast in His goodness, kindness and grace! We can only boast in God for our salvation. It was by His grace, through the cross of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that saved us. I hope this helps:) Thanks for the question!
Such truth. May we boast in our weaknesses…covered by the grace of God.
Yes, Brianna, boast in our weakness! When we are weaken He is strong!
You are doing such a marvelous study of Romans – it is so full of wisdom. I always love hearing what others are seeing the Word, as it is alive and powerful. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Marissa
Thank you Marissa, you are too kind! Yes, God’s word is alive and powerful! I love it! Always humbled to share what God is teaching! Have a great day!
Good lesson. It is time well spent when we to stop and think about who we are boasting in, ourselves or God, particularly if we are successful.
Thank you Mary! It is time well spent thinking about who we are boasting in. I do not think we/I stop and think about it often enough!Success tends to go to the head if we are not careful. Thanks for sharing today:)
Thank you for this! Sometimes when I am convicted about pride, I just stop to consider how many times in a day I use the word “I”…in my writing or speaking! Already I have said it 5 times just in this comment! I realize not all of these are sinful pride, but it does shed some light on how much we are focused on ourselves. Great reminder for me today, thanks!
You are right Nicole, not all the I’s you wrote are sinful, but it is good that the Holy Spirit prompts you to consider! I praise Him for His prompting and convicting! He keeps us in focus! I am grateful this was a good reminder today! I need reminding often:) Thanks for sharing your thoughts. God Bless:)
Reminds me of Psalm 20, “In chariots some boast confidence and on their horses some rely, but we boast only one defense, the name of God the LORD most high.”
Wonderful verse! Men/women do boast in many things but only God is worthy of that boasting! He is our only defense! Thanks for sharing this verse today! God Bless:)
Thank you for this reminder! Only boast in God! Things can from the outside look like we are boasting in HIM but it can still be selfish motives.
Amen Aly! It can look like it from the outside sometimes, but God knows our hearts! I ask Him daily to reveal my motives! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! God Bless:)
Amen. We live in such an I-centred world and are encouraged to boast in our own accomplishments, but the truth is that without God we are and can do nothing.
You are exactly right Melanie! Without God we are and can do nothing!!
Thank you so much for the amazing post. So true!
Your welcome Sarah!! All for the glory of God!
Love the free lessons downloads, and the image of Our we boasting in ourselves or God! Thought provoking, and great things to reflect on!
Cathy
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your kind words Cathy! God Bless:)
What a biblical gentle reminder where our all our praises should be directed to, Lisa. Thanks from your next door neighbor at Holley’s!
You are welcome Linda! Thanks for sharing your sweet words here today! I am glad you stopped by from Holley’s:) Have a Blessed Day!
This is very good! It is so easy to get wrapped up in our accomplishments and think that our own selves got us there, when in reality all good things come from above. Thank you so much for this reminder today!
Yes, James does tell us that all good and perfect things come from above!!! It is easy to get wrapped up in ourselves! Praise God for His reminders to us in His word:)Thank you, Miragonz!
A beautiful reminder, without the Lord we would have nothing; our boasting should be in Him. Lisa, thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays,
Yes, without the Lord we have nothing! He and He alone deserves our boasting! Thanks for hosting the linkup!