Boasting

​Humans love to boast.
 
To boast means to brag, congratulate oneself, show off, crow about, toot our own horn, pat ourselves on the back, strut, flaunt, let others know how awesome we are.
 
Who doesn’t like to boast about their accomplishments, conquests, victories and success? When you win, you brag, right? When you lose, not so much!
 
Boasting can be good if we boast about the right things. But most of the time our boasting is misdirected.
 
Our subject for this devotional is boasting. More precisely, what to boast about and what not to boast about. Our culture is confused when it comes to boasting. Many arrogant, narcissistic, self-promoting folks boast about things that should not be boasted about.    
 
My friends, God has a timeless and timely word for us that we desperately need to heed today regarding boasting.
  
The prophet Jeremiah gives us clear biblical guidance concerning proper boasting.
 
“Thus says the Lord, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth: for I delight in these things, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
 
“Thus says the Lord” means Almighty God has something serious to say and we better pay attention to it. Our Creator and Redeemer is THE EXPERT on human affairs. He knows what He is talking about in every dilemma man finds himself.  
 
Inspired by the Spirit of God, Jeremiah spells it out clearly. Man is not (“Let not”) to boast in his wisdom, his power or his wealth. Mankind, including you and me, is not to boast in who he is, what he has and what he can do.
 
Truth be told, man’s wisdom, might and money will never bring peace to men’s hearts and the world they live in. No matter how smart you think you are, how much money you have in the bank, or what power position you hold, boasting about you is boasting in vain.
 
Boasting in humanity, regardless of how many tout themselves as supposed “authorities” and “experts”, is short-lived and never ends well.   
 
You and I are to boast in the Lord.
 
The creature is to give glory to His Creator, not himself. We are to boast in who the Lord is and what He does. The key to proper boasting lies in understanding and knowing God. When you read the op-eds (opinion editorials) in the secular press and listen to the babbling bobbleheads in the media, they all contain a glaring omission: The Lord and His Word on matters is conspicuously left out.
 
The Lord Himself is the answer to our world’s woes. How do I know? The Word says so. You and I are to boast in the Lord’s loving-kindness, justice and righteousness.
 
“Loving-kindness, justice, and righteousness” come from Him. This is what our weary, lost world needs most. These three virtues answer the cry of human hearts everywhere.  I love this holy trio of godly virtues, don’t you? 
 
Jeremiah tells us that God delights (takes pleasure) in these things. You and I should delight in what the Lord delights in. We are to take pleasure in His lovingkindness, justice and righteousness. Just as He does.
 
In my heart of hearts I long to delight in lovingkindness, justice and righteousness as my Lord and Savior does.  
 
In this historic hour in human history, all of us must sincerely humble ourselves before the Lord. We do not need what man can do. The evidence of man’s expertise is readily and sadly evident. You and I must search for and receive by faith what only Almighty God can do to save our souls, families, nation and world.  
 
If you want to feel safe and secure today, turn off the tube and tune into God’s Word. Unplug media. Get the information and inspiration you need from the Bible, not the anti-Christ, anti-biblical words of the world. It does make a difference what you feed your spirit with.  
 
Beloved, fellow Christian do not fear what man is doing. Beware of bragging about what man brags about. Reverence Almighty God. Stand in awe of Him and His holiness.  Humble yourself. Choose to do His good, acceptable and perfect will. (See Romans 12:1-2).  
 
It is a biblical fact: people who boast in anyone or anything but the Lord will end up toast in the long run!
 
Who are your boasting in? Yourself, other people, or the Lord?
 
Make it a personal priority to boast in the Lord in 2021.
 
“But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord, for not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”                             II Corinthians 10:17
 
“Some boast in chariots, and some boast in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God.”                                                                             Psalm 20:7
 
A Word For Your Week: Make your boast in the Lord and what He boasts about.