Jesus’ humility is seen in Philippians 2: 5-8. And He humbled Himself to the point of saving humanity, through His death on the cross as a sacrificial Lamb. He submitted to the will of His Father. Humility is a Christian virtue and Jesus has laid an example. Therefore, to imitate His humility, Christians should be ready to deal with self and ego, which places a barrier between us and our devotion to God.
We are to be humble, assuming the position of a servant. If we do this, there will be love, peace, equality, and harmony in the church. Pride is an element that destroys and disgraces. The discussion about examples of pride, causes of pride, consequences of pride, and other concepts of pride will expose you to the will of God afresh.
Nebuchadnezzar: An Example of the Proud
“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty.” Daniel 4: 30
You need to recollect that the personal pronoun used by the devil in yesterday’s passage is eminent in vs 30 of today’s passage as used by Nebuchadnezzar. He arrogated the power to build great Babylon to himself. He has forgotten that whatever a man can do on earth is because of the enablement given by God. No man should therefore lay claim to what God has done.
Nebuchadnezzar suffered for it. He was driven from men to live with the beasts of the field, eating grasses like them. What a shame! The proud will surely end up in shame. Not until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God as the one ruling in the kingdom of men, giving it to whosoever He wills, the kingdom was taken away from Him. What a great loss! Please watch it, do not allow pride to destroy your life.
Uzziah: An Example of the Proud
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” 2 Chronicles 26: 3-6
Uzziah was an early achiever. He reigned at the age of 16 and ruled for 52 years. As long as he was seeking the Lord, God made him prosper 5, God helped him vs 7. His achievements were highlighted in vs 9 and 10. He was marvelously helped and became strong.
However, when he became strong, pride came. Pride covered his sight and could not remember that it was not by His power. Pride pushed him to do what he should not do. He went to burn incense, which was the duty of the priests. He eventually died of leprosy.
This is another dimension of pride. He was helped but did not acknowledge the helper when he became strong. No man has become great without contact with people. Learn to acknowledge and appreciate those God has used for your upbringing. Moreover, do not go beyond your boundary when you become great. May His grace be sufficient for us all.
Achievements: The Major Cause of Pride
“Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem…He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns…” 2 Chronicles 26: 7-9
You cannot say a man is not a thief until you put him in a place where there is money and he proves himself right. You can also not categorically say a man is not proud until he has many achievements and he remains humble.
Achievement is a good test of humility. Many people today have disappointed God because of what they possess. The issue of achievement covers every area of life. It includes the spiritual life, ministerial, academics, position, wealth, etc.
Many people have been seeing themselves on top of the whole world today because of who God has made them to be or become or because of the possession, God has given to them. They failed to recognize God as the giver of life and everything therein.
Such was the case of Nebuchadnezzar and Uzziah. Many servants of God these days feel too big because of the grace of God manifesting in their lives. Please watch it. Do not allow your achievements to drag you away from God’s presence.
The Consequences of Pride
“…and those who walk in pride he can be humble.” Daniel 4: 34-37”
Pride is not of God, He hates it (1 Timothy 2: 16). This is why the consequences of pride are not palatable. It should be noted that there is no action without its corresponding result. Some of the consequences of pride are as follows:
- The proud shall be brought low. (Proverb 29: 27; Isaiah 28: 3; Jeremiah 50: 32; Daniel 4: 37; Zechariah 10: 11
- The pride shall be taken away. Proverbs 6: 18; Zechariah 9: 6
- Their glory shall be taken away. Daniel 5: 20
- They shall be put to shame. Proverbs 11: 2
- The kingdom will depart from them. Daniel 4: 31
My observation is that all the consequences are negative, and not desirable. However, the proud shall experience them. Have you been taking note of pride in your life? It is high time you talked to God to deliver you. It is not a good trait, it is not of God. It can drag one to hell. Consciously ask God to give you the spirit of humility. It is then that you can be free from the consequences.
Resist Pride as You Praise
“And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.” Isaiah 25: 10-12
Pride is an attribute of Satan and it is attributed from the heart of whoever bears it; this caused the fall of Satan from heaven down to earth as it is recorded in Isaiah 14: 12-15. Hear what he said in his earth…“I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Highest, vs 13-14. King Nebuchadnezzar also exhibited the pride of heart by saying, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Daniel 4: 30, he learned 7 years’ lesson as a beast before he came back to His senses.
Moab in our text today exhibited pride traits and God said to them that He “will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.
Always watch yourself, i.e. do not examine yourself as God is granting you grace to attain and achieve in life, never allow the traits of pride in you; it is a killer!
Conclusion
We have learned about humility which is the act of exhibiting modesty, showing unassuming nature, and the opposite of pride. It is a biblical principle that repeatedly warns that God abhors pride. He opposes the proud but gives to the humble.
