The Scriptures say, "If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord." You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval. - (2Co 10:17-18 CEV)
In this day and age, its seems like first impression is a major concern. In job interviews, the first impression comes in the form of the way you dress, then followed by the way you talk. In meeting new people, it's almost the same thing. To make an impression with the public, one has to put on some appearance. Some choose to display authenticity, while others resort to false appearances - donning immitation of name brand accessories, or by engaging in self-boasting. Though it can sometimes be justified, there is still a better way.
If we have an important message, a truth that is compelling enough, it will find its own audience. There's no need to embellish the truth with falsity so that it becomes agreeable to the taste. If there's anything that may help bring the message to its intended audience, however, it's not exaggeration, not so much the incredible qualification of the messenger that he boasts about to gain credibility. Rather, it's through the humble spirit that he assumes, even knowing that he has something to boast about. This principle takes on a greater importance when the message we carry is a message that comes from God. If there's any room for boasting it should be to boast only about the Lord Himself, not the messenger (2 Cor 10:18).
But what about Apostle Paul engaging in a bragging exchange with some who tried to put him down to discredit his message (2 Cor 10:8-12)? Well, when the stakes are high, not in the interest of self but of God, there seems to be a justification to boast, but not without giving first a fair warning. Though this kind of boasting is in the interest of the truth and of the gospel, it's still important to keep in mind that boasting is still foolishness (2 Cor 11:1). Why the need to do this? Two reasons. First, there are people who would disagree with our message and they will brag about their own qualifications to discredit us, depriving us of the audience that our message intends to reach. Secondly, because sometimes people won't listen unless you impress them with something. And so we sometimes default to the common way of impressing others with ourselves first before we allow our message to be heard. Is this the best way? Seemingly not, but there may be times when it becomes necessary to impress the audience first. For what use is the truth if no one hears it? What benefit is an idea when nobody wants to listen, understand and embrace?
Discarding humility is not easy to justify. But we may need to do so but only for the interest of a higher purpose. Bragging like a foolish man must be done without feeling good about ourselves. If at all, the feeling should be one of lamentation because of the sacrifice of self to a moment of foolery to achieve a greater thing. Let this be our guide. When we boast, to what end is it? Do we boast so that people will look up to us, honor and praise us and give obeisance to us? Or do we boast so that our message will not be trampled upon by others because losing the message is more important than our own desire to be a humble man? Truly there is a time for everything and everything has its season (Ecc 3:1-8).
It there is a "right" boasting, it's not for the self interest of the boaster but the interest of the message. If our message is from the Lord, the best boast is about God's mighty goodness, incredible love and ever-ready forgiveness. If ever there's a need to boast so that people will listen and accept the message of the Lord, lament the fact that we have discarded humility for a moment and our own person takes a hit, making us foolish in the sight of God. If compelled to do so, let's take some effort to give a fair warning about the foolishness that we are about to do as Paul did in his letter to the Corinthians. After all, it's not the people's approval that we hope to gain in the end but that of the Lord and that's the only approval that matters (2 COr 10:18). If boasting then has to be done, let it be for the approval of God.
