1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:1-2 English Standard Version

Only two verses today, but a subject that is very relevant for the times we are living in. What sort of attitude would you say a person has who 'boasts about tomorrow'?

I'd suggest they are probably proud and presumptuous. In other words, very self-confident, perhaps even arrogant. Jesus told a story that was more a warning against greed, but which touched on 'boasting about tomorrow'. He told of a rich man whose land had such a bumper harvest he had a problem with what to do with all the extra grain. He decided to tear down the old barns and build bigger ones. But it was what he then thought in his heart that shows the danger of an arrogant and presumptuous attitude. He said: “I'll say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry'. But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you've prepared, whose will they be?’” And Jesus added: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

That story must've made a big impression on the writer of the New Testament book James. He says in one part: “Look here, you who say, 'today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We'll do business there and make a profit.' How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, 'If it's the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)

It's not wrong to be a person who has confidence to tackle tasks, even to venture into unknown areas to explore and expand one's knowledge or business. But God's word reminds us that ultimately our times are in His hands. When a person takes that to heart it brings a humility into their life that will keep them from the presumption and arrogance of those who care nothing for God. One of the greatest men who ever lived and who was mightily used of God was Moses. Yet the Bible says of him “the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)

All of this leads naturally to the second of the two verses in Proverbs today where it says: “Let  another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

People who are proud and presumptuous often boast of their achievements. Jesus gave an example of this in a Pharisee who prayed saying: “I thank you, God, that I'm not like other people - cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” The tax collector he referred to, however, dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, and said: “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” (Luke 18:11-13)

Or we can think of the lady named Dorcas. She was one of the few people in the days of the apostles who was raised from the dead. And we read in Acts that “all the widows stood around Peter, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.” (Acts 9:39) “Let  another praise you” says Proverbs. Or, as in this case, “let others praise you.”

Presumption and pride should have no place in a Christian's life. Whether it's our salvation, or any gifts and abilities God has given us, Paul's words to the Corinthians should apply. He said: “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:6-7) “Blessed are the meek”, said Jesus, “for they will inherit the earth.” And “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5: 5-6)