”Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1New International Version (NIV)
Proverbs 27:1 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Do not boast about tomorrow
In Proverbs 27:1, Solomon advises you to “Not boast about tomorrow” because “you do not know what a day may bring”. Solomon wants you to know that boasting about tomorrow is a function of confident reliance on your plans, not God.
You, being a human being, will always want to insinuate control of your future. That is why you will make plans for your future and be confident in them. And this is because humans don’t like to be in a position of lacking control over their futures.
Luke 12:13-21
However, in Luke 12:13-21, when Jesus responded to the question that a person had posed from His audience, warned them against all kinds of greed. He did this because life doesn’t consist of an abundance of possessions. Because in the pursuit of abundance in resources, you will have to boast about tomorrow. And in your boasting about tomorrow, you will put your confidence in your plans and your abilities, not God.
Generally, when you pursue your plans, you will be like the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21), who planned to build bigger barns. The Rich Fool, having harvested abundantly, planned to build bigger barns to accommodate even more abundant future harvests and enjoy life.
But unknown to him, God demanded his life the very night he made plans to build bigger barns. Because when he boasted about his plans, he disregarded God’s place in his plans and life. He, therefore, didn’t know what the future would bring. Only God knew.
Selective hearing
When you boast about tomorrow, you will start to selectively hear things concerning your life. Therefore, when prophets speak concerning your life and its situation, you will only want to hear messages of hope. It will be like Judah, who resonated with the message of immediate hope from a false prophet (Jeremiah 28).
The truth, however, is that their hope would be delayed (Jeremiah 29). Except for God, they didn’t know what the future holds (Ecclesiastes 8:7).
Worrying about tomorrow
Worrying about tomorrow is the contrast to boasting about tomorrow. After Jesus had taught His disciples about the Rich Fool, He proceeded to teach about worrying about tomorrow (Luke 12:22-34). He taught His disciples not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).
Don’t procrastinate
Don’t procrastinate! Because you do not know about tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1).
Plan, but don’t boast about your plans for tomorrow
Plan, but don’t boast about your plans for tomorrow. Boasting is a function of pride.
Rather, depend on God and say “If it is God’s will, I will live and do A, B, or C” (James 4:13-17). Otherwise, you will boast in your arrogant schemes, which is evil.
Finally, God exhorts you to seek Him and His kingdom (Luke 12:22-34). You, therefore, have to align with God and His desires.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, thank You for reminding me that You want me to live totally dependent on You. Teach me to depend on you because I can easily get off track and think in my heart that it all depends on me.
But that would make me proud, yet my life is in your hands. Help me to live today in Your mercies for me today.
This is my humble prayer of hope in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Ruth 1-4 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
