Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. – Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. – Proverbs 27:1 (KJV)
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Theme: Love and Humility
It’s good for us to think about and plan for the future. I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time thinking…what are we going to do this weekend…should we be saving more…should we be giving more…when can we take a vacation…where should we go…should we buy a home/car/bike/etc…should we change jobs or retire…where should our kids go to school in the future…and on and on. There’s nothing wrong with making such plans. In fact, we would be wrong not to do so (see Proverbs 21:5 and Proverbs 6:6-8 for just two examples of guidance on planning ahead). However, the key for us, as Christians, is to recognize that God owns the future and His plans will, and should, always take precedence over our plans. Recall Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 55:8.
We don’t know what the future may bring…but God knows. Thus, Proverbs 27:1 reminds us not to brag about what we have planned for tomorrow. Rather, we should approach the future as we’re told in James 4:15:
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (NIV)
