Stay Away from Boasting.

1 Corinthians 5:6 (New International Version)

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?

Louis XIV reigned as King of France from May 14, 1643 until his death on September 1, 1715. For 72 years he ruled and he declared that he “was the State.” Although, there was nothing particularly splendid about his appearance, he did possess a total and thorough confidence in himself. He enjoyed being called “The Sun King” or “Louis the Great,” though there was nothing exceptional about this reign except for its length.

Louis ruled France with an iron hand and greatly influenced the culture and political structure of Europe throughout his reign.

Prior to his death in 1715, he left instructions with the Bishop of the Catholic Church in France, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Massillon, that he be buried in a golden coffin and that at his funeral service the entire cathedral should be dark, lit dimly by only one candle positioned above his coffin so that all would be awed in his presence, even in death.

At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massillon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”

We should never forget that in ourselves we have no reason to boast. Only in Christ can we do great things.

Dear Lord we thank You for saving us and for actively working in our life to do great things for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Lesson about Pride From Napoleon

Esther 5:11 (New International Version)

Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.

Proverbs 27:1 (New International Version)

Do not boast about tomorrow,  for you do not know what a day may bring.

On the morning of June 18, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte massed his French troops on the fields near the Belgian village of Waterloo, just about 9 miles south of Brussels. Under his command, Napoleon had some 72,000 battle tested men. His enemy was an Allied army of 113,000 British, Dutch, Belgian, and Prussian troops. Napoleon had planned to have a surprise attack the day before, but heavy delayed his attack. But even without the element of surprise, the French dictator was confident in his victory.

As morning dawned on the 18th, Napoleon boasted he would bring a sound defeat to the Allies. Writing in his journal that morning, Napoleon called the Duke of Wellington 'a mere sepoy general' (i.e. one fit for nothing better than fighting in India), and boasted that he'd win the battle by lunchtime.

As the morning dragged on, the soggy field delayed the positioning of the French cannons. Finally near noon, the French cannons erupted. The British were well fortified by this time and prepared for the worst. Throughout the battle, the tide ebbed and flowed. Then the Prussians, who had remained in reserve, rushed to the battle. By 9 p.m., the French had suffered their worst defeat in history.

Has pride and boasting entered into your life?

Dear Lord we pray today that we would get rid of any sin of boasting and let our strength and confidence be in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our boasting should be in the Lord

We have no resaon to boast in our own might. We can't preserve our lives. We can't conquer kingdoms. We can't see heaven. We can't determine the future or change the past. So what do we have in which we can boast? God! We are living proof of his grace and mercy -- He saved us when we didn't deserve it, He rescued us from sin and death when we had no power to preserve our lives. Those in sorrow, brokenness, and night can look at us and rejoice because we are living proof God saves the sinner, raises up the disheartened, and mends the broken hearted. Praise the LORD for his glory. Praise the LORD for his grace

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
— Psalm 34:2

Dear Lord, thank you! Thank you for all that you have done for us. Let others see your work in us and understand that you can do a great thing in them, as well. In Jesus' name Amen.