INTRODUCTION
I GET TIRED: Of some baseball or football players telling me what kind of hot-dog or soup to eat: Of partially dressed Hollywood starlets or stars stating the kind of car that I should drive or which motor oil to use in that car: Of former professional sports stars pretending that the type of aspirin tablet that they take will cure all my ills: Of Hollywood stars
implying that my life will be spiced up and improved by drinking the alcoholic beverage that they hold in their hands: Of kids asking their mothers to buy a box of Wheaties, just because some newly crowned athlete, whose picture is on the box, endorsed it in a commercial and said, "this is the breakfast of champions…" I am still tired of hearing the Dixie Chicks(country singers) trying to explain why they said our President is an "embarrassment!
What credibility do these spokespersons have? Are they expert mechanics, nutritionists, health care professionals? Statesmen? No. They just get paid lots of money to use their popularity and looks to sell products.
Often I hear people quoting words said by the chairman of the Federal Reserve, some politician, comedian, economist, professor, doctor, TV news reporter.... They quote as important truth what that person says or
endorses. Then when they hear a Christian quote the Bible they say, "You are out of touch with reality… Too old fashioned… The Bible is just another book." Jesus said that he was, "the way, the truth and the life…" What he said in the Bible is of extreme and eternal importance to every person. What was the old saying? "When ________ __________ speaks, everyone listens." I say, "When THE LORD speaks, we all MUST LISTEN to what HE SAYS."
In the Scripture that I just read, we see that, THE LORD SAYS—DO NOT BOAST of--wisdom…strength…riches… THE LORD SAYS—DO BOAST ABOUT—-understanding and knowing God and His kindness…justice…righteousness. Since He is the one who made us and sustains us, we certainly should listen to what ever THE LORD SAYS.
I. THREE THINGS THAT THE WISE PERSON SHOULD NOT DO:
A. THE WISE PERSON SHOULD NOT BOAST OF THEIR WISDOM.
Too many people think that they know more than God. Some teachers, professors, evolutionists, scientists, abortionists, politicians, personal advice columnists, astrologers, witches, homosexuals, anarchists, cult leaders, preachers, authors, educators, humanists…Boast
that their wisdom is truth. What the LORD SAYS is the most important and final word. Listen to the words of Jesus: "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."(John 8;31-32)
We must not let the words of mere humans be treated as equal to the words of our Lord. We must not make them our idols or our gods. Recently, in one of my devotional books, I read the following statement: "The gods are dying. The gods of this world are sick unto death…Where is the security that they promised? Where is the peace? The terrible truth is that the gods of this world are no more worthy of our ultimate trust than are themen who created them."(Fredrick Buechner) Are you guilty of having other gods before the Lord, the Only Lord?
About idols, the Psalmist wrote, "Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."(Psalm 113:8) We long to be like the God who made us and is making us in His image. He will carry us through…
B. THE STRONG PERSON SHOULD NOT BOAST OF THEIR STRENGTH.
I do not think that Jeremiah is only speaking of those who posses great physical strength. We have all heard the saying, "Might makes right." There are other kinds of strength in which we should not boast. Political strength ebbs and flows at the fickleness of man. "What have you done for me, recently?"—Is the question the fickle ask. The strength of pretty or
plastic people only lasts until the wrinkles or weight gain , or someone more attractive comes along. People who dominate through personality are soon replaced by new voices. Powerful champions are replaced or die.
"God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in the time of trouble."(Psalm 46:1) God is eternal. He is in every believer. He gives strength for our pilgrimage to Heaven.
C. THE RICH PERSON SHOULD NOT BOAST OF THEIR RICHES.
Far too often Americans equate riches with great wisdom. Now there are lots of rich people who are wise and who work hard: But there are also lots of rich people who had their riches given to them by someone else. There are some rich people who were just in the right place at the right time. They worked, but God gave the increase. There is great power in money.
Jesus taught, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"(Mark 8:36-37)
We can not buy our salvation. Jesus does keep track of our good deeds and he will give rewards to the Christian: But he does not give indulgences for sin.
Jesus taught: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."(Mark 10:25) Jesus never condemned being rich. It is OK to be rich. Did you hear me? IT IS OK TO BE RICH! It sure would help our tithes and offerings. But Jesus taught that the rich are often tempted by pride and greed. We are saved by God’s free grace. To those whom God gives much, much is required.
I have known churches and pastors who were controlled by a rich member or members--who were nothing less than little dictators. A Christian can not be bought. We must ask, "What does God want?" Not, "What does Old Money Bags want?" Money does not make us better than others. We are all equal in God’s sight. I have never seen a U-Haul trailer filled with gold following behind a hearse.
II. THREE THINGS THAT A GODLY PERSON MAY BOAST ABOUT:
A. THE GODLY PERSON MAY BOAST THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS GOD.
In the last couple of years I have gotten two letters and two pictures from President George Bush. I also got an invitation to attend his inauguration. Now I know that he is a friendly and caring guy… But I can
not boast that I know him. Maybe he was responding to the many letters and e-mails that I composed and sent to his attention??? Maybe even to the $5.00 that I sent to his campaign???
We all know sports fans who know every fact and statistic of their favorite player or team. We know teens and adults who know all about their favorite musical artist or movie star. Do you know any "Name
Droppers?" Having powerful friends makes some insecure people feel a bit better…
God calls those who know Him HIS FRIENDS. He is the Only God. He is the Only One who is to be worshipped, followed, obeyed, praised… Jesus died for us. We must believe in him to be saved.
AS WE GET TO KNOW AND TO UNDERSTAND GOD WE LEARN:
A. WE LEARN THAT GOD EXERCISES KINDNESS.
Our awesome God is a kind and compassionate God. He does not call us to do anything without giving us the wisdom, strength, and riches to follow His command.
Our God is the Good Shepherd, the Rock of Ages, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He made us and He, as a good Father, only wants to help his children.
Isaiah taught that the gods or idols of the Babylonians had to be carried about, were burdensome, a burden for the weary. Isaiah taught that our God and the God of the Hebrews said, "I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you… I am God, and there is no other… What I have said, that I will bring about, what I have planned,
that will I do… I am bringing my righteousness near…my salvation…"(Isaiah 46)
A kind God encourages and empowers us to treat our fellow man with dignity, kindness, and respect. We must not think of ourselves as better than others, or as someone special. Oswald Chambers wrote: "Never be
unkind to anybody on the face of the earth, whether it be a degraded criminal or an upright moral man, because you have learned that the only thing to depend on in a man is WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN HIM. When you come to work for Jesus Christ, always ask yourself, ‘Do I believe Jesus Christ can do anything for that case?’ Am I confident in his power as he is in his own? If you deal with people without any faith in Jesus Christ it will crush the very life out of you. If we believe in Jesus Christ, we can face every problem the world holds." The worst person is a potential saint.
B. WE LEARN THAT GOD EXERCISES JUSTICE.
Our God is a God of justice. Ideally, our USA is a land that gives liberty and justice for all: But reality says that not all Americans are free. Many are bound by many things. Not all Americans are given justice. There are often slights of justice. Our God is a fair God. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."(Fredrick Buechner) He has promised that he will supply all of our needs. So, do not worry about food, housing, clothes, health, homes, wisdom, strength, riches…
"We…know that a man is not JUSTIFIED by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be JUSTIFIED. If, while we seek to be JUSTIFIED in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!" (Galatians 2:15-17) Jesus took the punishment for our sins. Through faith in him we receive eternal life.
C. WE LEARN THAT GOD EXERCISES RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Our God is holy! Only through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ are we be considered holy. God expects his people to worship Him in the beauty of His holiness. Without Him all of our righteousness is like
filthy clothing. His power, and only His power can make us what He wants us to become. God never acts in an unholy way. He is consistent holiness.
This past week, the devotional magazine, "Our Daily Bread," told the story of a man visiting the bridge of a huge ship. The thing that impressed him most was the "brass, which gleamed like gold." He asked an
officer, ‘How often do you polish this?’ The reply was, ‘Every day… For the minute you stop polishing it, the brass starts to tarnish.’"("Our Daily Bread" April 28, 2003) We must submit ourselves to the constant
cleansing of God’s holiness and righteousness, if we are to remain clean. How? Bible reading. Prayer. Family and church worship times. Witnessing. Hymns.
When we keep close to God and allow ourselves to be touched by the exercise of his loving righteousness, we are cleansed by the power of His Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
God is not impressed by our wisdom, strength, riches. He made everything, and what we have was made and given by his grace. Jeremiah taught that God DELIGHTS in our relationship with Him—Us knowing Him. A relationship that produces understanding, knowledge, kindness, justice, and righteousness ON EARTH.
On this EARTH, in our bodies, today, tomorrow, in any situation—A relationship with God helps us to be shaped into his image and to act in His holy ways.
When people look at us, do they see Jesus?
Today at the Communion Table, we are one in the Lord. In the sight of God, we are equal. Our LORD SAYS we should eat this sacrament until he comes to take us to the place where we can continue an eternal relationship with the Lamb that was slain for our sin. The grace that he gives us through this sacrament helps us, on this "earth"(v 24.), to be more like Jesus.
(Quotes marked from: Fredrick Buechner, Oswald Chambers, "Our Daily Bread." Bible quotes from the NIV.)
(Ronald J. "Ron" Keller 5/4/03)
