Boast About This

Jeremiah 9 says,

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this:  that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord."

I enjoy watching award shows, I do.  But I’ve noticed something over the years.  Celebrities used to get up and thank God in their speeches, and then go on to boast in themselves and talk about all things unrelated to God at all.  I remember thinking it was cool that they acknowledged God but then being disgusted at what they said after that.  In other words, it seemed like a pat phrase, something to say – maybe flattery – when they didn’t really know God at all.  Or maybe they did, but they only saw him as the giver of fame and fortune, when things are going well.

Now, it’s very rare to hear a celebrity thank God at all.  All credit is given to people, karma, luck, or their own hard work and achievements.  That too is disturbing, although perhaps those things are what got them to their status of fame.  Because God isn’t concerned about making us famous.

He is concerned about our understanding him, that he is the Lord who does what?

“…exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth.”

That’s the God who wants to be praised, because he loves his people and lavishes that love on them.  And when we boast in Him, we receive his strength and richness to share with others, not our own fame and fortune to hoard and hover.