Boasting

What are your accomplishments in life? This world measures us based on things like our education, career, status, and the stuff we have. Not only that, but society pressures us into measuring success based on those sorts of accomplishments.

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What are your accomplishments in life? This world measures us based on things like our education, career, status, and the stuff we have. 

Not only that, but society pressures us into measuring success based on those sorts of accomplishments.

But Jeremiah tells us this,

That’s not what the world tells us at all. Wisdom, strength, and riches are what counts. Without those, you’re nothing. So, we tend to overemphasize their importance. Here in America, the amount of fanfare given to those who graduate high school is pretty impressive. Expensive gifts, big parties, massive banners, signs, and bigger than life-size portraits of the graduate on people’s front lawns. Even more so, the prestige that goes with what college you attend. Then your career and what you can accumulate throughout your life. Kick-starting the economy is more important than people’s lives during the pandemic. Making money is the be-all and end-all. And it’s easy for us to get caught up in the game. All of us are attracted to the wonderful feeling of being applauded for our accomplishments.

That’s not what the world tells us at all. Wisdom, strength, and riches are what counts. Without those, you’re nothing. But God isn’t interested in any of that stuff. Jeremiah goes on to say,

There’s nothing wrong with boasting, in the sense of the word Jeremiah uses. It’s the word halal, from which we get the word “Hallelujah.” It means praise more than the modern-day use of the word, boasting.

So, what are the praiseworthy things in our lives? Ultimately, they should be the things God values – what He finds praiseworthy – is knowing Him—being in tune with Him. Understanding and manifesting His qualities of steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.

Not only is boasting about worldly things wrong, but it can also betray the fact we don’t value the things of God.So often in this world, we can only find success if we override steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. We end up compromising integrity and honesty to accomplish what the world expects of us. Not only is boasting about worldly things wrong, but it can also betray the fact we don’t value the things of God.

We all naturally desire things like wisdom, strength, and riches. We are rewarded in this life if we prioritize them. We are even rewarded if we exhibit them in the ecclesia. But those things should not matter to us at all. What matters is whether we are kind to one another, patient and compassionate, forgiving, and just.

It’s as Paul writes to the Corinthians,

Richard Morgan,
Simi Hills, CA