Avoid Boasting
“Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and with Him, actions are weighed.” 1 Samuel 2:3
In 2011, Rashia Wilson of Tampa, Florida boasted on her Facebook page that she was the “queen of IRS tax fraud”. According to court documents, she had stolen as much as $20 million.
From at least April 2009 through September 2012, Wilson and her co-conspirator, Maurice J. Larry, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by negotiating fraudulently obtained tax refunds. They did so by receiving U.S. Treasury checks and pre-paid debit cards loaded with proceeds derived from filing false and fraudulent federal income tax.
A prosecutor said Wilson used the money stolen from taxpayers for “personal greed and glorification.” She bought a $90,000 car and had a $30,000 birthday party for her 1-year-old daughter with the money according to court documents.
She was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The Court also ordered her to forfeit $2,240,096.39, which constitutes the proceeds traceable to the offence.
Boasting is foolish pride that the Lord hates. Get before the Lord and repent of every sin of boasting.
“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24