This is what the LORD 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," (Jeremiah 9:23, 24)
Among the many things that dominate our deepest dreams, there are three that stand out above the rest. They are Know-ledge, Strength, and Wealth. Think about how much of who you are in the eyes of others (and perhaps even yourself) is defined by your level of intelligence, your physical appea-rance and abilities, and your bank account. Indeed, the South African Dream is about having as much education, physical prowess, and financial clout as we can possibly acquire.
The pursuit of these things often determines the life we end up living....or losing.
The LORD used Jeremiah the prophet to deliver a timeless truth for men of all ages. "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," Jeremiah wrote, "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" (Jeremiah 9:23,24).
You may be smart, and possess many degrees, and have keen insight into many different fields of knowledge—but, do you know the LORD?
You may be a physical specimen, strong and resilient, looking as though you've just step out of “Men’s Magazine” or “Vogue” —but, do you know the LORD?
You may be loaded with money, with no end in sight of all the riches you are yet to acquire—but, do you know the LORD?
Ultimately your knowledge will prove limited, your body will wear down, and your money will belong to somebody else; so it would be the height of folly to place your trust in these things. But the people who know the LORD, we are told, "will be strong and do exploits!" (Daniel 11:32). So, do you know the LORD?
There are people who do not know the Lord, and refuse to acknowledge Him because of their pride and ignorance. There are some who imagine that they know Him, but live in fear of Him, created by lies that they have believed about Him. And then there are those who do know the Lord truly, and love Him dearly. Which one are you?
