Do Not Boast About Tomorrow in Proverbs 27

Humble trust.

I have contemplated my experience of loss. I have processed my unwanted journey. I have rehearsed and debriefed my experience.

I have considered the options of living in fear or living in denial. Knowing tragedy could be around the corner on any given day would result in living in fear. The other extreme, living in denial, would lead to living as if there is no brokenness in the world or it only strikes other people.

Two extremes.

I have come up with a third option: Humble trust.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1

Solomon warns us that we should not boast about tomorrow. We should not arrogantly make our plans. We live in a fallen world, a broken world, and life is full of difficult days. Humility is the preferred, more prudent, choice to make. Do not boast arrogantly about your tomorrows. Remember, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Hold your plans with an open hand, with humility.

The answer is to live with wisdom. It is unwise to boast about tomorrow because you have no idea what one day holds. Proverbs 27:12 says, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” The prudent, the wise, recognizes that danger is real. Pain is real. Loss is coming or may be here already. Difficult days are real. It is best to humbly acknowledge this news. By contrast, the simple—the fool—arrogantly goes on and suffers. In essence, the simple boast of their tomorrows and push right into danger.

No humility—only arrogance. No wisdom—only folly.

The warning is worthy of healthy consideration. Do not boast about tomorrow. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” This admonition is to consider a funeral instead of a party because it changes the way you live now. You live humbly, not boasting about tomorrow. Instead, you live more prudently, in trust. You lay it to heart.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

Community is always healthy. Accountability is always safer. Living humbly with others is helpful. I know my long and unwanted journey was made bearable by the support of others. So many loving people surrounded me.

Iron sharpening iron is a discipline for all of life. It’s healthy to be sharpened by the presence and interaction with others. Discipleship is life on life, iron sharpening iron.

Grief is a season where you need life on life, iron on iron. Grief is a time to humbly submit to sharpening. You are especially vulnerable and in need of perspective. One who is not grieving can listen and give a sharpened perspective. One in grief needs context. A trusted counselor can give perspective and context. Trusted counselors will bring balance to a mourner’s outlook.

As Proverbs 27:9 states, “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” The counsel of a friend can be like oil and perfume to your context and perspective. Even in loss, a sweetness will be added to your journey and experience through the iron sharpening iron of a trusted counsel of a friend.

In humility, do not boast of your tomorrows. In wisdom, embrace the counsel of your friends.