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Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches…”
Jeremiah 9:23
Reflect
It’s incredible to think that just three years before Germany launched its war against much of the world, it hosted many of those same nations in Berlin for the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. The Nazi regime intended to use the Games as a showcase for the strength of the new Germany and its claims of Aryan superiority. One humble American threw a wrench into those plans.
James Cleveland Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama, about an hour north of Birmingham. His family later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and that’s where he grew up and got his famous nickname. His mother called him by his initials—J.C.—but people thought she was saying Jesse, and the name stuck.
What also stuck in people’s minds was his natural athletic talent. In high school, he equaled the world record in the 100-yard dash and recorded a distance in the long jump that would have earned him a bronze medal in the 1932 Olympics.
Jesse had a stellar track-and-field career at Ohio State University, and it was natural that he would represent the United States in Berlin. Still, Hitler’s reputation as a racist was already well known, and there was a serious movement to boycott the Games. The NAACP was among the organizations that urged Jesse not to compete, but after considerable debate, he decided to go.
Jesse entered the 100-meter and 200-meter races, the long jump and the 4-by-100-meter relay. He won all four events convincingly. He set a world record in the 200 meters, helped the relay team set another world record and established an Olympic record in the long jump. He already owned the world record in that event before the Games began.
There has been a lot of debate about whether Adolf Hitler snubbed Jesse when he won. Jesse himself insisted that Hitler did not reject him and actually waved to him after one victory. Jesse said the greater snub came from American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who did not send him a telegram or invite him to the White House as he did with some of the white Olympians.
What is clear is that Hitler wanted to display his country’s supposed perfection before a captive international audience. The facilities were spectacular, and Germany dominated the medal count, winning 89 medals and finishing atop the standings. The United States came in second with 56.
But in the marquee track-and-field events, a quiet, determined Black American outshined the athletes Hitler expected to represent his racial ideal. Without bragging, boasting or thumping his chest, Jesse Owens let his talent do the talking, and he walked away with four golden moments.
Today, Adolf Hitler is remembered as one of history’s most reviled figures. Jesse Owens, meanwhile, stands as one of this country’s greatest athletic heroes.
I’m sure you’ve met people who loudly champion their own abilities. They will be the first to tell you how great they are and how much they are capable of doing. Regardless of whether they are as good as they say they are, those people are rarely very high on anyone’s list of favorite people.
Then there are those who are the opposite. They talk little and never esteem themselves too highly, but they tend to come through in big situations. They are reliable, dependable and good at what they do—and people tend to think very highly of them.
That’s very much like what Jeremiah was talking about when he quoted the Lord as saying, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches…”
But Jeremiah’s message goes beyond telling us not to brag. Wisdom, strength and wealth may all be gifts, but none of them gives us a reason to consider ourselves superior. None of them is a secure foundation for our identity.
Instead, the Lord says that the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows Him—the God who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness.
That is a much better foundation.
Hitler boasted in race, military strength and national power. Jesse Owens’ victories exposed the emptiness of those claims. But even athletic greatness is not the ultimate measure of a person’s worth. The only boast worth making is that we know the Lord and are learning to reflect His character.
Today, do your work faithfully and give your best at whatever you do. The world notices who is dependable and who is not. But don’t make your abilities or accomplishments the foundation of your identity.
Let your work speak for itself. Don’t toot your own horn. Give God the glory, and let others see His steadfast love, justice and righteousness reflected through you.
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Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
