When reading about the
Zoramites, I happened to notice that one of their problems was that they
“lifted up their hearts unto great boasting
in their pride.” (Alma 31:25, emphasis added)
My attention was caught by
this and I felt like I needed to gain greater perspective and insight about
what boasting is and why it is bad. I knew it was related to pride, but in what
way I didn’t know.
So I did research. And what follows was very interesting
to me because I got to find it and synthesize it and put it together, and
discover things I needed to work on.
But I’m sharing it because I hope someone else might get a little
benefit from it too.
Wikipedia was helpful. It said boasting is attention-seeking
by exaggerating accomplishments or their importance or one’s credit in a
venture. It may consist of
one-upmanship. It also said that
boasting may also include exaggerating our obstacles and problems to bolster
self-esteem. Or it may consist of
magnifying our injuries or discomforts in order to avoid responsibility and
malinger. There is usually some
element of deception in boasting.
I was also interested in
reading what the scriptures said about boasting. I found principles, case studies, warnings, and
results. I found so much helpful
stuff that I’m going to break it into several posts.
To start off, here is what
Christ said that relates to boasting:
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of
all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying,
God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be
abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14)
Who is boasting in this
parable? Clearly it is the
Pharisee. Who is he boasting
to? Strangely enough, to God! How weird is that?
Also, notice in verse 12
that the Pharisee is using his obedience to two particular commandments on
which to base his trust in his own righteousness. The problem is there aren’t just two commandments. There’s a lot more than that. Yes, the first and second great
commandments encompass the rest, but those aren’t the one’s this Pharisee
mentions. He just talks about fasting and tithing. So we are led to conclude that the commandments the Pharisee
doesn’t mention are the ones he’s bad at keeping because if he kept them, he would
have mentioned them too.
Another thing he does is he
says, “I am not as other men are” and a list of other people’s sins follows. He
thinks he is different from other sinful men, and yet.. doesn’t everyone have a
few commandments they are good at keeping and certain sins they aren’t tempted
by? What then makes him so
special? The truth is he’s really
no different than other men.
The lovely thing about this
parable is that it illustrates the kind of boasting we may make to God, even in
our prayers, and how this actually has the effect of keeping us from God. If we find we imitate the Pharisee, we
claim reconciliation that we actually do not have and can’t ever obtain until
we see things how they really are--we are sinful and need mercy.
I also like that it shows in
the publican a proper attitude of humility and the proper action of pleading
for mercy for the sins and weakness he discerned in himself.
More on boasting to come later..
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