Chapter 2: "Aren't I Terrific?"

Chapter 2: "Aren't I Terrific?"

One way we continually contaminate the well of speech is by bragging or boasting.  Most of us are adept at both in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.  I often do one or the other without conscious thought. …...

Two people shared similar ministry experiences.  One said, "God really used me. I led three 

people to Christ, and many others commented on how my message helped them."  The other said, "As a result of your prayers, God worked in a wonderful way.  Two people received Christ, and many expressed that they were touched by his hand." 

In the first instance, our attention is focused on the speaker.  In the second, it was focused on God.  "it is not good to each much ho0ney, nor is it glory to search out one's own glory" (Proverbs 25:27).  You see, when we seek out our own glory, we are usurping the glory of God. 

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Read James 4:13-16  Why does James stress that even talking about what we will do tomorrow is boasting? (vs. 14)  In what other ways do we boast about what we have done?  How do we still tell the story of our lives without it being boasting? (vs. 15)

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Of course you and I aren't going to go around tacking on the phrase "if God allows" or "if God wills" to every sentence of intent.  But is that the attitude of our heart?  Do we say, "I'm going to go to the conference this weekend" while in our heart we hold those plans up to the will and control of the Father? ….Perhaps we need to examine our heart -- to pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23) concerning boasting -- not if we do, but to what degree.  Then we must ask God for his healing light to be beamed on it, exposing it and cleansing it from our life and speech. 

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Find a quite place in the house and read James 3 out loud to yourself.  Let your ears hear the words, not just your mind.  Now, take a moment and write down your observations concerning the "Tongue." 

Read Ephesians 4: 17-32.  Pau is instructing the Ephesians on how to live as Christ has called us to live.  Read the verses and complete this phrase:

I am to be…

Now, read the passage again, and complete the phrase:

I am to speak/My talk should be…

 This week, keep track of things you said that could be bragging or boastful.  How could they have been worded to give God glory?  Did they even "need to be said?"