1. In this statement Solomon notes one aspect of human nature: we tend to boast. There are countless applications of this truth.

2. Here, he is speaking about the tendency to boast about things that have not even happened yet—as if they were a sure thing.

a. We boast about our sports teams and how well they will do in the playoffs—before they even make it to the playoffs.

b. We boast about our kids—as if each of them will become president one day.

c. We boast about our businesses and careers.

d. We boast about our country and assume that we are not vulnerable to the issues that plague other nations; militarily and economically and socially—we tend to think that nothing can harm us. Other countries might fall—but not us!

e. As Christians, we boast about our walk with God. Somehow we manage to convince ourselves that other people may fall spiritually—but not me. I go to church and read my Bible. Nothing can happen to me tomorrow. I’m safe. I won’t fall.

3. There is a tendency sometimes to have an overly optimistic and rosy view of tomorrow.

4. And then there is the other issue of procrastinating today and boasting about tomorrow as if we will be able to do tomorrow what we put off today. But work piles up because tomorrow brought new difficulties we did not anticipate.

5. And of course, there is the issue of salvation: Today is the day of salvation. Boast not thyself of tomorrow! You may not have a tomorrow.

6. BOAST: Celebrate; glory in; praise; shine; rejoice; brag.

a. It is often used in a bad light:
• I Kings 20:9 – The King of Syria warned Ahab: “And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.”
• Ps. 49:6 – “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.”
• Ps. 10:3 – “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”
• The things we boast in are not always in harmony with the mind and will of God.

b. But the term boast is also used in a good light
• I Chron. 16:25 – “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.” (same word)
• I Chron. 16:10 – “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”
• Ps. 34:2-3 – “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
• We are to “boast” in the Lord in the sense of glorying in Him; rejoicing in Him; praising Him; exulting in Him.

7. But Solomon is not talking about boasting in the Lord. He is talking about boasting about tomorrow…

a. He is talking about boasting about tomorrow and all the things that we envision tomorrow to bring… even if our vision is overly optimistic… and not in tune with reality.

8. We are told NOT to boast in tomorrow.

a. Don’t automatically assume that all will go as planned tomorrow.

b. Don’t automatically assume that all will be rosy tomorrow.

c. Don’t assume that your health will always be vibrant and strong.

d. Don’t assume that your finances will always increase.

e. Don’t assume that our country will be better off tomorrow than today.

f. And don’t assume that your life will be a bowl of cherries tomorrow.

g. Don’t glory and rejoice in all the good things you anticipate for tomorrow.

9. A proper reading of the New Testament does not encourage a believer to assume that the last days of the church age will be full of sunshine, happiness, and great success for churches that seek to honor God.

a. We are not told to boast in the fact that the spiritual and moral climate around us will continue to improve and be brighter tomorrow.

b. We are told to anticipate “perilous times” morally and spiritually. And we are beginning to see it.

c. We are told that evil men will “wax worse and worse.” We see that too.

d. Our boasting is not to be on the changeable earthly conditions of tomorrow.

e. Our boasting is to be in the Lord who changes not. We can always rejoice and glory in Him.

f. When we glory in what we anticipate to be “happy days” coming for tomorrow, we may be disappointed.

g. When we glory in the Lord, we are never disappointed.

h. Solomon challenges his readers to be realistic about tomorrow and earthly conditions.

i. Don’t boast in things that are temporal and can vanish away.

j. Jer. 9:23 – “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD.” (same word for glory = boast)

10. It’s good for the believer to have bright hope for tomorrow when we understand tomorrow in a figurative sense (eternity).

a. Christians should be hopeful people—the most hopeful people.

b. Ultimately our future IS glorious and something we should be rejoicing in.

c. If we focus on eternity, then our glorying and rejoicing and boasting is well founded.

d. When we focus on tomorrow (the next day—or even the next few years on earth), we may become disenchanted and saddened.

e. Hope is good when it is well founded. We need hope. Our hope is in the Lord.

f. But hope that is not well founded can be dashed. And when our hopes are dashed, it can result in a loss of joy, sadness, discouragement, and even depression.

g. When we boast in our Blessed Hope—the coming of the Lord Jesus to bring us to glory, then we can experience real joy… even when earthly conditions are deplorable…

h. Hab. 3:17-18 – “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”