Acceptable Boasting (Part II)

Scripture:  I Corinthians 1:31 (NASB) -  Just as it is written, “Let Him who boasts, boast in the LORD.”
    
Self-praise has been described as being “a twisted human perversion of true praise.”  Excepting perhaps the setting of an employment interview, where has tooting one’s own horn ever gotten the individuals who have indulged in its practice? It certainly does not please the heart of God.  I bring to the stage that terrible giant of old named Goliath, who though rather full of himself and overflowing with vain self-confidence, ended up slain with a huge hole in his head at the hands of a young but totally God-confident shepherd boy named David!  Consider the Israelites in Amos, chapter 6, as God lambasted them for their pride—BOASTFUL PRIDE in their wealth, possessions, and foolish mockery of justice! (Sounds similar in many respects to the national landscape here in America, doesn’t it)?  God deemed them sowers of corruption, souring “all that should be good and right.” (Amos 6:12b, TLB)
    
 I summon Joseph of Genesis, chapters 37-50, to the stand. We can learn much from his account and should rightfully attribute much of his, albeit naïve, braggadocio to his youth.  He seemed oblivious to the reality of “haters” and the envy that many wear like snug-fitting tunics!    I suspect that Joseph, at age seventeen, may have soon wished that he had restrained himself in sharing  with his envious brothers the major details of his dream about God’s glorious plans for him. (They obviously viewed it as pure boasting).   (Genesis 37:5-9)
   
More commendable, however, is the fact of Joseph’s sustained loyalty and trust in his God throughout the years of his great ordeal.  His godliness was exemplified by his offers of undeniable praise to his Lord when he told those brothers that what they’d meant for evil, God meant for good. (Genesis 50:20) That overriding Godward perspective of his MAGNIFIES the GREATER virtues of BOASTING IN THE LORD!  Praise God for His helping this trial-beleaguered hero maintain his spiritual sensitivity and personal integrity.   He finished strong in his life by majoring on the incomparable faithfulness and providential care of the sovereign God! 
Prayer:    Father God, may we, too, embrace the  blessings and solid wisdom of ongoing praise (God-centered boasting) and exultation in You-- the Giver of every good and perfect gift!  Amen!    
(by Denise Diggs)