Dr RK Behera
Principal, MGM College
In an age that loudly celebrates intelligence, power, and wealth, the ancient words of the Prophet Jeremiah resound with striking and unsettling relevance: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong of their strength, or the rich of their riches.” These words challenge the very foundations of modern pride. Human achievements may dazzle society, earn applause, and command influence, but they do not define true greatness nor guarantee moral progress. Ours is a world that equates success with status, intelligence with superiority, and wealth with worth. Yet history and daily experience reveal a painful truth: wisdom without humility becomes arrogance, power without compassion becomes oppression, and wealth without justice deepens inequality. When achievement is detached from ethics, society advances technologically but regresses morally. The soul of a nation is weakened when human capability is glorified while human dignity is neglected.
Through Jeremiah, God redirects human pride toward what truly matters—knowing Him. This knowledge is not an abstract belief or a private religious sentiment; it is a lived reality expressed through kindness that heals broken lives, justice that defends the voiceless, and righteousness that upholds truth even when it is costly. To know God is to reflect His character in public life, social responsibility, and personal conduct. Jeremiah reminds us that lasting glory is not measured by what we possess, display, or dominate, but by how we live and how we treat one another. Titles fade, power shifts, and wealth diminishes, but a life anchored in God’s values leaves a lasting imprint on humanity. In a world restless for meaning and fractured by inequality, this prophetic call invites us to redefine success—not by accumulation or acclaim, but by integrity, compassion, and faithful living. True greatness is not about being admired by the world, but about living in a way that uplifts the world.
