Jeremiah 8:4-10:16
Of what are you most proud? What are those things you’d like everyone to know about you? Having been raised in polite society, perhaps you do not actually boast of such things, but deep down, what do you wish others would ask about you at parties, so that you could tell them all about it? Perhaps you’ve had some spectacular business successes and made a bundle. Or maybe you’d like to recount your exploits on the athletic fields back in the day. Or maybe you’re smarter than most, an excellent student, a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, quick with your insights into many problems.
But what does God say through Jeremiah?
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
I don’t think that the LORD is saying that we should actively deny our strengths or assets, our talents and abilities. No, if the LORD has given you wisdom or strength or riches or anything else, rejoice and thank Him for those gifts. To do otherwise would be to dishonor Him, the Giver of all good things. But in all of it, we need to get our priorities straight. We need to understand that knowing Him far surpasses anything else.
No sensible person, then, will be proud of his wisdom or of possessing the other goods I have mentioned, but will follow the excellent advice of blessed Anna and of the prophet Jeremiah: “Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong person glory in his strength, and let not the rich person glory in his riches.” But what is true glory, and what makes a person great? “In this,” says the prophet, “let him that glories, glory that he understands and knows that I am the Lord.” This constitutes the highest dignity of humankind. This is his glory and greatness. Truly it is to know what is great and to cleave to it, and to seek after glory from the Lord of glory.
Saint Basil the Great, from “Homily 20, on Humility”