The Right Boast!”

“The Right Boast!”(Jer.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.”‘(Jer.9:23-24).
To boast is “to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.”
When the lizard jumped down from a high place, it nodded its head in appreciation while saying, “If there is nobody to appreciate my feat, I will appreciate myself.” We may not be completely wrong to say that a boaster is a person who has adopted the lizard-like character.
Come to think of it, who is there that does not boast? It may be easy to quickly notice the proud, arrogant, and pompous braggart, but we may not easily notice the boaster who doesn’t seek wide notice. The bottom line is that we all boast somehow.
This may explain why the text does not discourage boasting. Rather, it gives us the one thing that if we have to boast, we should about.
My friend,whenever you feel like boasting, boast that you understand and know the LORD and that he is the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.
We cannot fully understand and know the LORD except through that which by his grace he has revealed to us. With such limitations, the best thing is to stay humble.
Boasting about ourselves portrays God as a Deity who practices partiality in his show of love, favouritism, injustice, and unrighteousness.
On the contrary, his steadfast love endures forever, and his favour falls on anybody in line with his justice.
Let us remain humble before the LORD as we seek to know him more and more and the power of his righteousness through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to remain humble and appreciate the goodness of the LORD in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Happy rally celebration to the youths of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon.
Rev Babila Fochang.
16/02/2025.