Boasting

Dec. 10

Read: Jeremiah 9:23-24, 17:5-13

Boasting

9:23-24

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

What do we boast in? It is a funny idea… “boasting”. I think we are often taught not to be boastful at all. The truth is that there is a boasting that is pleasing to the Lord… and there is a boasting that is unacceptable.

God gives us clear instruction as to what is pleasing to him: “Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” The Lord delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. The Lord delights in those who boast about HIM and not themselves. It is so tempting to lean into our own smarts, our own strength, and our own resources. We can become arrogant and brag about these things. The Lord rejects this wort of behavior outright. The flip side is also true. We can become desperate and discouraged by the lack of our own smarts, our own strength, and our own wealth / riches. This is just another form of finding our worth in these earthly things. Both issues - boasting and desperation regarding earthly wisdom, strength and goods - are an issue. Both ways of thinking distract us from the goodness of the Lord and are displeasing to him. Both people - the boastful and the desperate - must come to the Lord and boast of HIM… trusting HIS love, justice, and righteousness. We brag about the fact that the Lord hands out steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.

The outworking of this truth becomes even more clear in Jeremiah 17. To cling to our earthly strength, wisdom, and riches actually becomes a “curse” to us: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.” (v.17:5) Think of what a curse is. Something that follows you wherever you go and negatively effects every situation. To “trust in man”, fixate on fleshly strength, and turn your heart away from the Lord is a CURSE. The Lord says that living this way is living “like a shrub in the desert, and (you) shall not see any good come.” (v.17:6) But there is another way. There is both a “curse” and a “blessing” to be had in the Lord. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes…” (v.17:7,8) When the heat is on, we will see where our roots truly are! There is a genuine blessing in store for those who trust in the Lord.

Jeremiah had to cling tightly to this. His ministry was not very “fruitful” by any standard. He knew his reward would have to come from the Lord. He was trusting not in the things of this world… but in the steadfast love of God. What is it that we are “based” in? Is it our own study of the issues of the day? (Our knowledge?) Is it in our fit bodies… our cleanses… our kombucha and gluten free diets… our PR’s and strength trainman numbers? Is it in our Bitcoin wallet… our stock portfolio… or in our bank account? These things are not wrong in and of themselves… but they have the potential to capture our hearts. They temp us to trust THEM instead of the Lord. They lure us in to bragging about them… to boasting about them… even if we only boast to ourselves! May the Lord rescue us from ourselves! May he anchor our trust in HIM. “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows (the Lord) …Cursed is the one who trusts in humankind and makes flesh there strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD… (but) Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” Love you guys. JDP