In what do you glory?  So much of that in which we glory does not last.  In 1985, Bruce Springsteen released, “Glory Days.”  (Wow!  It has been 38 years!).  The song is about the passing of time.  He sings, “I had a friend (who) was a big baseball player back in high school.  He could throw that speedball by you; make you look like a fool.  Saw him just the other night… all he kept talking about was glory days\ Well there’s a girl that lives up the block, back in school she could turn all the boy’s heads.  Sometimes on a Friday I’ll stop by… we just sit around and talking about the old times… she starts laughing thinking about glory days\ Glory days they’ll pass you by, glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye, glory days” (Bruce Springsteen, Glory Days).

Wrong Things

1.  Wisdom.  “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom” (Jeremiah 9:23a).

The “wise man” may refer to one who thinks that he is wise, but is not in agreement with God (cf. Jeremiah 8:8-9; 18:18).  Many are like this.  Solomon warns, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). 

Another possibility is that the “wise man” may refer to one who is wise in earthly things (cf. Jeremiah 49:7; 50:35; 51:57). This seems to fit.  Some are wise in business and money.  Some are wise in politics and government.  There is nothing necessarily wrong with earthly wisdom.

However, here are some things to keep in mind.  (1) The wisdom of man is nothing compared to the wisdom of God.  “There is none like You, O LORD… For among all the wise men of the nations… there is none like You” (Jeremiah 10:6-7).  “He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion” (Jeremiah 10:12 cf. 51:15).  (2) Man’s cognitive abilities may diminish over time.  Age can do this.  (3) Technology and current understanding can pass by one.  This is especially true once one is out of the workforce.  (4) Even the wisest of men die.

2.  Might.  “Let not the mighty man glory in his might” (Jeremiah 9:23b).

The “mighty man” refers to the strong warrior, or powerful military man (cf. Jeremiah 5:16; 14:9; 26:21; 41:16; 46:9; 48:14; 51:30, 56-57, etc.).  Some are warriors.  Some are physically strong.

However, here are some things to keep in mind.  (1) The might of man is nothing compared to the might of God.  “Ah, Lord GOD!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing to hard for You… the Great, the Might God” (Jeremiah 32:17-18).  God, not man, should be feared (Matthew 10:28).  (2) Man’s physical abilities usually diminish over time.  (3) Others may come who are bigger, stronger, or faster.  (4) Even the mightiest of men die.

3.  Riches.  “Nor let the rich man glory in his riches” (Jeremiah 9:23c).

Riches are mentioned several times in the book of Jeremiah.  Many times it is in the context of ill-gotten gain (Jeremiah 5:26-27; 17:11) and covetousness (Jeremiah 6:13; 8:10; 51:13).  However, possessions and riches are not wrong in and of themselves (Jer. 32; 1 Tim. 6:17-19).

Here are some things to keep in mind.  (1) Lasting riches are in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).  (2) Earthly riches can disappear (Jeremiah 48:36; Proverbs 23:4-5).  (3) Earthly riches cannot save (Proverbs 11:4; Mark 8:36-37).  (4) The richest of men die (Luke 12:13-21; 16:19-31).  (5) When one dies, he cannot take his earthly riches with him to the other side (Ecclesiastes 2:20-21; Luke 12:20; 1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Right Thing

“ ‘But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:24).

Wayne Jackson comments, “Neither scholarship, military strength, nor wealth would be able to deliver Judah in the day of her calamity.  The only source of true confidence was understanding and knowing the true God and his attributes, e.g., his kindness (on those who serve him), his justice (in dealing fairly with all), and his righteousness (his demand regarding human conduct).  In these things, Jehovah delights.  Paul cites this passage in 1 Corinthians 1:31 (and) 2 Corinthians 10:17” (Wayne Jackson, The Prophets, p. 134).

Do you know God?  If God exists (and He does) then nothing could possibly be more important.