Almost every time I go in a store, I am struck by the abundance of the offerings there. As you walk through the doors of a grocery store, there are tables full of breads, cookies, pastries, and all manner of things we don’t need in our diet, but there they are ready to entice us. And we indulge.

Not only are we assaulted in the physical sense by these temptations, but as a country we are inundated with the ideal that we are mighty—both in the might of our physical protection and the strength of our educated minds. Here is the USA we tend to think ourselves above others.

It is sad to see the divisions in our country, but perhaps we’ve taken out eyes off of what is important. Maybe we’re so fixated on ourselves, we’ve lost sight of what God wants for us.

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches…” Jerimiah 9:23

Have we become complacent in indulging ourselves to the point that we glory in the wrong things? Do we glory in the wisdom that comes from empty education? (By that I mean learned intelligence that doesn’t include God.) Do we glory in our might without seeing the danger in how easily we can be defeated? Do we glory in our riches and ability to purchase whatever we want on a whim?

Jeremiah 9:24 says, ““But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement , and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”

Instead of putting wealth, might, and worldly wisdom on a pedestal, we are to glory in God and who He is. God’s lovingkindness in the face of our indulgences is humbling. His judgement and righteousness are perfect. We should depend on Him and not the might or wisdom or riches of our nation.

The next time you go to a store, take notice when you walk in the doors. Look at all the offerings that are set out to entice when you don’t need them. Consider what you glory in. Is it in the ability to indulge yourself or do you glory in the Lord and his lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness.

Lord, may we always glory in You.