THE COLLAPSE OF CHARACTER - PART 5

BOASTERS

When Pride Finds Its Voice

“…for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters…” 2 Timothy 3:2 

Covetousness never remains silent for long. What the heart craves, the mouth eventually proclaims. Paul now moves from inward appetite to outward expression. He names the next mark of perilous times plainly: “boasters.” Pride that begins internally soon demands a platform.

A boaster is not merely someone who speaks confidently. The word describes a person who parades self, exaggerates worth, and draws attention to personal achievement. It is the vocalisation of self-love and the advertisement of covetous success. Boasting exists to be heard. It requires an audience, whether large or small.

Scripture treats boasting with deep suspicion. Proverbs declares, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth”(Proverbs 27:2). Boasting reverses that order. It seizes praise rather than receiving it. It elevates self rather than exalting God.

Jeremiah delivers one of the clearest rebukes of this spirit: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me” (Jeremiah 9:23–24). God does not condemn wisdom, strength, or provision—He condemns trusting in them as identity.

The apostle Paul echoed this truth when he wrote, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). Boasting is ultimately a worship issue. It reveals where honour is being directed.

Charles Spurgeon warned that pride is the last sin to die in a believer and the first to grow in a culture. He observed that when society encourages self-promotion, humility is treated as weakness. The louder a culture becomes, the harder it is to hear truth. Boasting fills the air with noise, leaving little room for repentance.

History has shown this repeatedly. Winston Churchill warned that arrogance often precedes downfall. He noted that when leaders begin believing their own publicity, they stop listening to counsel. Pride deafens. Boasting blinds. Collapse soon follows.

Our age has elevated boasting to an art form. Self-promotion is encouraged, curated, and rewarded. Social platforms are built upon visibility. Success is measured by recognition. Silence is mistaken for insignificance. The question is no longer, “Is it true?” but, “Will it be noticed?”

This spirit bleeds easily into spiritual life. Testimony can become self-display. Ministry can become brand. Achievement can overshadow obedience. Paul confronted this very danger in the Corinthian church, where believers boasted of teachers, gifts, and spiritual experiences while neglecting love and holiness. He reminded them, “What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). That question dismantles boasting completely.

Boasting thrives in perilous times because humility requires stability. When identity is uncertain, people shout. When worth is measured by comparison, self-praise becomes survival. The boaster is often deeply insecure, using volume to cover emptiness.

Scripture contrasts this spirit with the character of Christ, who “made himself of no reputation” (Philippians 2:7). The Son of God did not advertise His power. He demonstrated obedience. He did not exalt Himself; He humbled Himself. In a culture intoxicated with self-display, Christ’s example stands as a quiet rebuke.

For the believer, this calls for careful reflection. Boasting is not limited to words. It appears in tone, posture, and motivation. It asks, “How does this make me look?” rather than, “Does this honour God?” It craves affirmation more than faithfulness.

Paul includes boasters early in his list because pride is contagious. Once self is celebrated openly, others follow. A culture of boasting cannot sustain truth, because truth demands humility. Correction becomes offensive. Accountability becomes intolerable. God’s Word becomes negotiable.

The last days are loud days. They are filled with voices competing for attention.

But the voice God honours has always been the one that trembles at His Word.

And when boasting becomes normal, pride soon settles deeper.