It Is Not Boasting to Reject Perversions

   Jeremiah 9:23-24, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’” declares the LORD.

   My wife and I were discussing boasters and boasting. We went into our Bibles and discovered the above verses. We have all met boasters. They always “one up"” us. If we say we took a relaxing one week cruise to the Bahamas, they will tell us emphatically that they will be leaving soon for three weeks in Aruba!

   Verse 23 selects three specific boasters. First, the rich man. These boasters are kings and queens of conspicuous consumption. They show off their possessions: my house, my car, my furniture, my trophies on the wall, my awards and honors, my recognition, my tenants, my house upstate, my vacation. They believe they are living in splendor and find a continuous need to announce it. Of course, it should be understood that not boasting does not mean that one is not boasting in his or her heart. There are rich people who affect modesty. Rich students I have known made it a point to drive a used or less than elegant car or to “dress down” and avoid finery. Yet, were they inwardly over-impre ...

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