“One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.”
1 Kings 20:11
We’ve all witnessed it, whether in ourselves or others: the cringe-worthy spectacle of bragging-gone-bad. While it’s natural to celebrate legitimate wins and hard-won accomplishments, premature boasting often sets us up for humiliation.
The timeless wisdom of King Ahab of Israel, recorded in 1 Kings 20:11, serves as a powerful reminder. Faced with the overconfident threats of a neighboring king, Ahab wisely declared, “Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.” This vivid metaphor highlights the foolishness of celebrating victory before the battle is won. Real victory is earned, not merely declared.
Boasting often stems from arrogance and overconfidence, with far-reaching consequences. Constant self-promotion can quickly erode the respect of others, making one appear conceited rather than impressive. When we loudly proclaim our abilities, we inadvertently create an impossible standard to consistently meet. The pressure to maintain inflated claims eventually leads to stress and the shame of public failure. Few things are as tiresome as a perpetual braggart; friends and acquaintances instinctively distance themselves from someone whose conversation consistently revolves around their own supposed greatness.
Throughout history, figures of immense talent and accomplishment have succumbed to the temptation to boast, only to see their glory fade as a result. The legendary boxer Mohammad Ali was renowned for his arrogance. He famously proclaiming himself “The Greatest.” While his confidence, which added to his charisma and captivated audiences, was backed by an impressive record in the ring, his extravagant claims and self-promotion drew criticism and controversy, proving that even the highest achievements are diminished by excessive boasting. The arrogant will often draw the attention of their peers who are determined to knock them down from their pedestal and take it for themselves.
Perhaps one of the most glaring examples of empty boasting we see is in the realm of politics. For all the politician’s self-aggrandizement, lofty ambitions and convincing promises it seems like it’s only a matter of time before they’re brought low by the self-produced criticism of those anxious to prove them wrong.
At its core, boasting is a symptom of pride – often, the face of an inflated ego. From a biblical perspective, pride is central to humanity’s problems. Much, if not all, of the world’s troubles can be traced back to the prideful human heart. Pride in our nation, race, religion, gender, education, or wealth often alienates us from others.
The Bible teaches that pride is sin, and its most grievous form is religious or spiritual pride—self-righteousness. This is the belief that, on one extreme, that we simply don’t need God at all, or on the other, that I can earn God’s favor and acceptance based on our inherent goodness or deservingness. This self-righteousness stands in direct opposition to God’s grace. As James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 declare, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Spiritual pride, in either form, asserts self-sufficiency, ‘boasting as one putting his armor on’, while humble faith in Christ acknowledges complete dependence on God’s unmerited favor, ‘boasting as one who has taken His armor off’.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 further clarifies: “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, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD…” This passage dismantles all earthly sources of pride—intellectual, physical, and material—and redirects our focus to knowing God Himself. To truly know God is to understand His character, holiness, and sovereign grace, which inherently humbles us and magnifies His worth above our own.
Therefore, the solution to spiritual pride lies in a humble faith in Christ, the Son of God who came to do for us what we could never do for ourselves – make us right with God. This humility isn’t self-abasement, but a realistic assessment of our spiritual need apart from God’s intervention. It’s the recognition that salvation is a gift, not a reward. When we embrace the truth that “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9), we dismantle the foundations of pride. Our confidence shifts from what we can do for God to what God has already done for us through Christ.
In fact, the only one who can truly boast as “one who has taken his armor off” is Christ. His definitive victory over sin and death fully secured our redemption on the cross. His triumphant cry, “It is finished,” signified that the war against spiritual pride, sin, and the devil had been decisively won. Our humble faith, therefore, is not in our ability to don our own spiritual armor and fight a winning battle, but in the accomplished work of Christ—the One who has already taken off His armor, having achieved the ultimate and eternal victory on our behalf, and is seated now at the right hand of God as a victorious king.
Ultimately, as the Bible reminds us in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” It states that true boasting is found not in human achievement, but solely in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. It is through Christ’s sacrifice, not our own merit, that we are reconciled to God. This humble faith, centered on the cross, fosters genuine love for God and others, breaking down the barriers that pride erects and leads to true spiritual freedom and unity.
“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Romans 10:11-13
By Pastor Tim Mattox
Paphos Calvary Chapel
www.calvarycyprus.com