Bragging Rights

“Almost no one likes a show-off, but almost everyone likes to show off at least a little.”

This quote from Psychology Today captures the tension we feel about making others aware of our accomplishments. We don’t want to listen to someone go on and on about their achievements, but at the same time, we get excited to share good news about our own. Whether it’s finishing a tough task, winning an award, or being recognised by a mentor, we want others to notice our wins!

But here’s the question: are Christians supposed to brag? Does that break the rules of following Christ?

No. Yes. Maybe?

When my son was in elementary school, he had a fantastic teacher who taught well and modelled integrity. One of her classroom rules was that bragging was wrong. Really wrong. So wrong that, for years, my son considered “brag” to be one of the worst four-letter words. No joke. We couldn’t even say it around him without tears streaming down his face. Fast forward a few years to a student-led conference where the students were told to brag about themselves to their parents.

Oh boy, there were tears that day.

How do you help a 10-year-old flip the script in his head so he doesn’t think he’s condemned to a Christless eternity for being proud of a good grade on a book report?

The reality is that many of us still wrestle with the same tension. Talking about ourselves can feel unchristian, even self-centred. If we’re recognised for something, we may feel pressure to quickly deflect the compliment and change the subject. But avoiding the spotlight completely isn’t the answer either.

The problem comes when we swing too far in either direction. Sometimes we talk about our accomplishments to elevate ourselves or put others down. Other times, we refuse to accept any credit at all—pretending we had no part, which is really just a backwards form of bragging. Neither approach is healthy or honest.

So what’s better? It begins with identity.

If our identity is in Christ, then we can rejoice that the saviour of the world has given us gifts, talents, and interests to use for his glory. When those gifts make a difference in someone’s life, it’s not sinful to talk about it. In fact, as Christians, we should grow more comfortable sharing the good things God is doing in and through us.

That doesn’t mean we place our worth in our accomplishments, but it does mean we can acknowledge them without guilt. Sometimes we get to work hard, apply what we’ve learned, and be part of something that brings us joy. That’s worth celebrating.

A helpful question to ask is: What went well here because of my involvement? This keeps us grounded. It lets us see how our gifts contributed without overinflating our importance or dismissing our role entirely.

You don’t risk a Christless eternity by talking about your promotion at work, and you’re not selfish for being excited about something good in your life. Knowing who you are in Christ allows you to share wins with joy, receive compliments with grace, and keep perspective.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)