FALSE CONFIDENCE?

This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.

But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord , have spoken!
Jeremiah 9:23‭-‬24 NLT

Boasting is a means of expressing the source of one’s confidence.

Boasting doesn’t just involve coming forward to make open statements, it has to with the mindset of confidence in these false sources of confidence. The mindset is actually the reality of boasting because boastful statements only come from a boastful state of heart.

Many pride themselves on their intellectual capacity, in spite of being born again. It could be educational heights, natural smartness and easy assimilation of knowledge, skills acquired, etc. Sadly those in such categories have little *experiential* knowledge of God. They know God only theologically via intellectual arguments, but have no proof of knowing God truly. No amount of intellectual knowledge can explain the things of the Spirit, it is foolishness to those who are clothed in worldly wisdom.(1 cor 1v19-21)

Some boast in physical capabilities e.g body builders, professional fighters, etc. Unfortunately, no amount of physical strength can sway the forces of darkness in spiritual warfare, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. Only the strength that comes from knowing the Lord and putting on His armor.(eph 6v12-18)

Some boast in money and position, but no amount of riches can buy a ticket to Heaven or even pay for peace and Joy(matt 16v26). Also no matter how highly positioned a man may be on earth, he is still under the authority of the principalities and powers that govern the world. It is only through our union with Christ that we rise far above them to be seated with Christ at the right hand of God(eph 1v20-22; 2v6)

Let your boast be only in the Lord for He can use foolish things to shame those who boast in worldly wisdom, weak and poor things to disgrace those who boast in their strength and riches, things with least significance to shame those who boast in their influence and position(1 cor 1v26-29).
Only when we know His ways and understand His purposes do we truly have anything to boast about.