"Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD" Jeremiah 9:23-24.
The measure of character is in what we love most. Worldly wisdom, power, and wealth are the true loves of many, and easily supplant that which should be our greatest love. Jesus reminds us in Mark 12:30 that the greatest commandment is to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." If our heart and passion truly is love for our Father, then our boasting can be "that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth."
To know and understand our Father is to know and understand His ways. He is a God of lovingkindness, justice and righteousness.
Psalm 33:5 states, "He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD." The God of covenant has unending faithfulness toward those He loves, and He calls us to be extensions of that lovingkindness in that the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31.
Our Father is a God of justice. We read in Isaiah 42:1-2, "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations." Jesus has been empowered and commissioned to bring forth true justice to the nations. Sadly, until He returns as earth's rightful king, the wealthy and powerful buy justice, to the detriment of the downtrodden who so desperately need it.
Our Father is a God of righteousness. It is through the gospel that God's righteousness is given: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. A love for God and Christ will unite in love for others as we are motivated to share the gospel with the unrighteous.
Loving the wisdom, power, and wealth of the world is short-sighted and misguided. Passion for understanding and knowing the God of lovingkindness, justice, and righteoousness is the wisest choice we can make.
©Steve Taylor, 2022 --Used by permission
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