When Successful, Don't Choke with Pride!

Look at how Uzziah is introduced to us in the bible: Uzziah, King of Judah, was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty two years. ... He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.  He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God.  As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success (2nd Chronicles 26:3).

King Uzziah is commended for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord and seeking God.   Consequently, God gave him success.  For example:

• He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah (2nd Chron 26:2)
• He went to war with the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod (2nd Chron 26:6)
• He rebuilt the towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines (2nd Chron 26:6)
• God helped him against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites (2nd Chron 26:7)
• The Amonites brought tribute to Uzziah (2nd Chron 26:8)
• His fame spread as far as the border of Egypt because he had become very powerful (2nd Chron 26:8)
• He built towers in Jerusalem and he fortified them ((2nd Chron 26:9)
• He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain (2nd Chron 26:10)
• He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands ((2nd Chron 26:10)
• He had a well trained army ((2nd Chron 26:10)

From the examples above, there is no doubt that Uzziah was a blessed man.  However, verse 15-16 highlights when and how Uzziah's life took a different course: His fame spread far and wide for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.  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.

What a tragedy!  The bible clearly indicates that it is pride that led to Uzziah's downfall.  He exalted himself and forgot that all he had become, was only attributable to God.  Pride puff us up and blinds us.  Uzziah knew that only the levites were allowed to burn incense on the altar, according to Mosaic laws, and yet his pride made him to consider himself more highly than the levites.  The consequences of such disobedience were dire: ...leprosy broke out on his forehead....King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died.  He lived in a separate house- leprous and excluded from the temple of the lord.  Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land (2nd Chron 26:19-21).

The deceptiveness of pride cannot be under rated.  Obadiah 1:3 states the pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, "Who can bring me down to the ground?".  Every believer must guard their heart against pride.  When the accolades and cheers of men surround us, we should always remember that God is the reason for the success, and He alone should receive the glory and honor that is due Him.

Pride is your sure ticket to downfall.  Just like Uzziah, the bible has numerous examples of people who God's wrath came upon and were stripped off their glory because of pride.  Nebuchadnezzar is a perfect example of the consequences of pride.  Daniel 5:20 states But when his (Nebuchadnezzar) heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. It seems to me that pride is an arrow that the devil likes to use against the powerful; perhaps because when one becomes successful and powerful, there is a high likelihood of having a false sense of self adequacy.

Deuteronomy 8:12-14 shows that God is aware of our vulnerabilites when we are successful, and gave clear instructions: When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied,, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

Firstly, this scripture reveals that when we praise and worship God, we create an atmosphere in which pride cannot thrive.  True worship requires that we stand in awe of God, rever Him and acknowledge Him as our all in all; as we do so, any traces of pride are exposed by the light of His presence.  True worship requires that we love God, and 1st Corinthians 13:4 teaches us that love is not proud.  Secondly, we are commanded to be careful not to forge the Law of God.  How is that possible?  By meditating on God's Word, day and night (Jooshua 1:8).

God detests the proud.  Proverbs 16:5 states, The Lord detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.  God cannot be near to those who are proud, thus He distances Himself from them (Psalms 138:6).  It is an awful thing to be cast away from God's presence.  Don't let pride distance you from God!

Join me in making this prayer:

Lord forgive me for times I have thought of my self more highly than I ought to.  Forgive me for the deception of pride that has blinded my heart and caused me to rely on my own power and might instead of relying on your Holy Spirit.  Search the depths of my heart and if there be any pride, forgive me and lead me in the way of righteousness.  May all that I have achieved, all that I am achieving and all that I will ever achieve be for your glory.  May your doing in my life lead me to my knees in worship.  May I be nothing, that you may be everything.  May I decrease that you may increase.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.