What Does The Bible Say About Bragging About Money?

For a great many generations now, man has used money as a means to improve civilizations, and this practice continues today. One of the most important uses for it is as a medium of exchange, which allows those who use it to enjoy increased levels of convenience. There is nothing inherently wrong with money, but the love of it is the source of all evil; even more so if such money is used to boast about one’s financial situation to other people, particularly those who are in the greatest need of assistance. What does the Bible say about boasting about one’s financial success? What kind of consequences does it have?

We are warned in the Bible to never be boastful of our achievements. The wise are not to boast about their wisdom, the mighty are not to boast about their strength, and the rich are not to boast about their riches (Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom  or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,).

Caution is warranted because boasting is a topic that appears quite frequently in the Bible, and each time, it is made clear that the Lord disapproves of such behavior, and He has a penalty in store for those who do it. When a man boasts in his arrogance, it is considered evil (James 4:16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.). While we are still living on this earth, money will continue to serve as an essential medium. The fact that it can be used to pay for things that we require gives it a potential value. However, at the end of time, money is of no importance because no human being, regardless of how much money they may have in their possession, can ever redeem themselves by paying ransom to God with that wealth (Psalm 49:6-7).

The pride that a man feels for the tangible items he possesses is no guarantee that he will continue to be able to enjoy those possessions in the next instant, the next day, or tonight before he goes to bed. Ultimately, all of these things came from the Lord; we are not to take pride in anything we have, including the goods we currently own. In the first place, everything belongs to God (John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.). In this regard, He can take it away even in the twinkling of an eye. And when He does, you will not be able to take pleasure in it since you will no longer be among the living. Just like what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

As Christians, we should never put our hope in this world’s goods; our only safety can be found in the Lord. The objects of this world will eventually rust, get infested by moths, and be taken away from us. It is only fitting that we store our valuables in the heavens above, for by doing just that, the treasures will never rot, never become corrupted, and will never be taken by thieves (Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.).

What does the Bible say about being proud and boastful?

A man is a social being, and in order to avoid the negative effects of isolation, he must constantly surround himself with other individuals. When we interact with other people on a day-to-day basis, others are likely drawn to us due to our traits and qualities. It is reasonable to assume that individuals who share similar qualities will mingle together, but this is not always the case because people have their own unique characteristics and traits. Some people are nice and kind and love peace, but some people are rude, boastful, and difficult. In any event, we need to be reminded of the kind of people Christ longs for us to become. Is it appropriate to be proud and boastful? What does the Bible have to say about this topic?

The Lord hates those who are haughty in their hearts, and he will bring punishment upon them (Proverbs 16:5). Furthermore, it is inappropriate to brag; you should allow other people to sing your praises rather than do it yourself (Proverbs 27:2).

The Holy Scriptures instruct us to live our lives with a sense of humility by teaching us that nothing in this world genuinely belongs to any one of us. God is the owner of everything, and He has blessed us with everything out of His love and generosity. As Christians, we have a responsibility to give thanks to God for the many ways in which He has shown that He is good and loyal. We must always be mindful that the Lord opposes those who are proud, but He is gracious to the humble (James 4: 6). There is nothing we can rightfully claim as ours alone without qualification. We are not in a position to argue that we should be honored because of our wealth, strength, or intelligence; we are nothing without God. 

Pride in one’s own life and an arrogant attitude toward one’s accomplishments are not traits that are associated with the Lord. Since this does not exhibit the love that is a result of God’s love, we cannot say that it originates from God. We are constantly reminded as Christians that if we genuinely love God, we will obey the commandments He has laid out for us to guide us in how we live our lives (John 14:15). Jesus Christ himself gave the instruction that we are to love one another with the same kind of brotherly love that we have for Him. So, when we let these bad traits win in our emotions, we don’t follow the commandment to love each other, and we break the law.

Should we ever feel the need to brag, the only thing we should brag about is the love that the Lord has for us and how Jesus Christ willingly took on the sins of the world and died on the cross in a spotless and immaculate state in order to redeem mankind from the consequences of those sins (Galatians 6:14, 1 Corinthians 1:31). The blood of Jesus Christ redeems us. Therefore, we can boast about having a love that is so selfless and genuine that it is incomprehensible to man. 

How do you manage money according to the Bible?

The things that have been entrusted to our care are always subject to our accountability. Regardless of the results of any actions we take or do not take regarding it, we cannot ultimately hold other people accountable for it because it is our own choice. God, the source from whom all blessings flow, is the one responsible for bestowing material blessings upon His people. As a result, it is expected of us to put it to the most beneficial use we are capable of in order to bring praise and glory to God. It is our responsibility to nurture its growth, just as we are responsible for the growth of everything else that God gives us. How exactly should those of us who call ourselves Christians handle our personal finances?

It is only right that we show reverence to the Lord by giving him a portion of our riches and the most valuable aspects of all we make when we are managing our money. After that, He will stock our vaults with grain, and our barrels will be brimming with excellent wine (Proverbs 3:9–10).

The Word brought to our attention that it is incumbent upon us to keep in mind that the Lord is the source of all prosperity and blessings. He commands us to remember that He is the origin of everything and the one true source. We return what is rightfully God’s to Him not for any reason other than the fact that doing so is our responsibility and obligation, nor for any other purpose (Leviticus 27:30). When we put our focus on God and make pleasing Him our number one priority, we will find that all of life’s other necessities are brought to us as a natural consequence. This is also true concerning our financial situation. When we put God first in our financial decisions, we will be showered with such an abundance of benefits that there will be no room for anything more (Matthew 6:33).

Wealthy people should not be arrogant or put all their faith in the wealth they have amassed. Rather, they should turn to God, Who is the source of all of these things and to Whom they owe their good fortune (1 Timothy 6:17). Also, we do not love the world or the things that are found in it because if we choose to do so, the love of God will not be upon us. This is because the world is not our home (1 John 2:15).

We have a responsibility to be accountable for the blessings that God has bestowed upon us because if He considers us worthy, even with the meager possessions that He has bestowed upon us, then there is every reason to believe that He will entrust great things to us. We must be obedient in performing our responsibilities to the things God has given us (Luke 16:11).

Therefore, let us always keep in mind the importance of safeguarding our hearts. We need to guard ourselves against becoming consumed with money and learn to be content with what we already have rather than constantly pursuing more, especially if this is at the expense of our relationship with other people and with God. The Lord is faithful to His word and has promised that He will never leave or forsake us. What else could we possibly require when the Lord, Who is the source of everything, is working on our side? (Hebrews 13:5)