Character and Discipline · Christian Life
Arrogance? Pride?
3 min read, approximately
“Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
King Uzziah
Reading 2 Chronicles 26 we see that there was a king named Uzziah:
- A man blessed by God—sorry, a man super, super, super, super blessed by God.
- This man began to reign when he was only 16 years old!
- Yes! A young boy who had none other than the prophet Zechariah beside him to instruct him.
- When he went to war, it was God himself who helped him!
- He had a magnificent army made up of brave and hardworking men, with the best weapons and shields of the time.
- He also built machines that were highly innovative for the time, machines that hurled arrows and enormous stones… until his fame spread.
All this and more because God willed it! Glory and honor to God!
Uzziah’s arrogance and pride
But as time passed, as he won victories and his fame spread more and more, something began to form in his heart… Something wrong, something misguided: he was filling with pride…
He believed he knew everything; he believed only he was right… He believed he was indispensable…
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” (2 Chronicles 26:16)
Although the priests told him he was doing wrong, he became filled with anger… and so the Lord struck him with leprosy.
A man with talents, gifts, great fame, wisdom, endowed with so many things… How sad to know that he ended up isolated because of leprosy until the day of his death.
For reflection
We would be so foolish to think we know it all! We would be so foolish to think we are indispensable! Let us not be carried away by pride and arrogance.
Indeed
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.” (James 1:17)
Join me in prayer and let us say to the Lord:
Lord, your Word says
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.” (Romans 12:16)
Today we acknowledge that you alone are sovereign and wise; everything we know, undertake, and obtain is because you have willed it so.
That is why today
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.” (Psalms 51:10-11)
Uproot all arrogance, all pride, and all haughtiness from us, so that we may understand that solely and exclusively
“Now unto our God and Father [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:20)
_**Remember to stop by the Songbook
May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!