“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” (Jeremiah 9:23, emphasis added).

According to human criteria, three things constitute the most important things in this life: 1. Human wisdom; 2. Human might; and 3. Human riches.

God declares that human wisdom is foolishness: “For it is written, I [God] will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Corinthians 1:19, 20).

Solomon testified about human wisdom: “I have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:16–18).

How about human might? Before God, human power is nothing. In the Bible we find many practical lessons about human power before God. When Israel was living under slavery in Egypt, God, through His mighty actions, showed how foolish it is to resist His will.

When the king of Assyria challenged God’s power to protect His people, a single angel destroyed the whole Assyrian army of 185,000 men in one night.

How about human riches? Christ told the parable of a man who prospered under God’s blessing but didn’t recognize his duties to use his riches for God’s glory. He made plans for his prosperity without considering God’s will. The Lord said to him: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20, 21).

The richest man in Old Testament times—one blessed with houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, pools, servants, maidens, cattle, silver, gold, treasures of kings and provinces, singers, musical instruments—declared: “I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:9–11).

Solomon was powerful, wise, and rich. However, he used all the gifts of God to glorify himself. At the end of his short life, He was totally disappointed with his own endeavors.

“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:24).

True value in God’s sight, is knowing and understanding Him (“This is life eternal” John 17:3). Knowing God results in exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness on the earth.The apostle Paul, after knowing God’s wisdom, God’s riches, and God’s power, declared: “[The Lord] said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. . . . Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 30, 31).

Which values shall we choose?