First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. [Proverbs 16:18 (MSG)]
God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place. [Proverbs 16:5 (MSG)]
Second Chronicles tells of Uzziah, a man who became king of Judah at the age of sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years. A successful and renowned warrior, he defeated both Philistines and Arabs and expanded Judah’s borders. Uzziah was also a great builder; during his reign, cisterns were dug, towers fortified, forts built in the wilderness, and catapult-like machines that could sling stones and arrows were built on Jerusalem’s walls. With God’s help and guidance, Uzziah became famous and powerful.
Unfortunately, along with Uzziah’s renown and success came pride. He forgot that it was God’s power, not his, that had brought him so many triumphs. As long as he sought guidance from the Lord and acknowledged God’s actions, he had success. But when Uzziah no longer consulted God and acted as if God’s laws no longer applied to him, his life took a disastrous turn. The pride-filled king defied sacred law by entering the sanctuary of the temple and burning incense on the altar. The descendants of Aaron were the only ones authorized to be priests and perform the sacred rites of worship. When the priests confronted him, the king became enraged. Leprosy suddenly sprang out on his forehead as God’s punishment for his sin. The leprous Uzziah had to live in isolation and died in dishonor. The once great king is not remembered for his great achievements but rather for his downfall and punishment.
Four of the last seven governors in Illinois followed their gubernatorial terms with terms in the penitentiary. Rather than remembering each man’s achievements, we only recall their corruption. Another Illinois politician was recently imprisoned; instead of recalling his service in the House of Representatives, he only will be remembered as a child molester. Every day we see entertainers, sports stars, religious leaders, politicians, and business people, once great and powerful, who will not be celebrated for their accomplishments. Instead, they’ll be remembered for their cheating, deceitfulness, fraud, immorality, corruption and worse because, like Uzziah, pride led them to believe they were above the law. Instead of a Hall of Fame, their names will be listed in a Hall of Shame.
Indeed, pride does lead to destruction and conceit to a fall. Like Uzziah, we need to recognize the role God plays in our accomplishments. Anything we have achieved would have been impossible without God empowering and sustaining us. No matter how successful, respected, famous or powerful we may become, we must continue to seek God’s guidance and obey his laws. Remembering that our successes are because of God will help us avoid the sin of pride and all the problems that go along with it.
It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. [Augustine]
Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—are just plain sin. [Proverbs 21:4 (MSG)]
Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors. [Proverbs 29:23 (MSG)]
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While writing yesterday’s meditation, I remembered back to my high school days when I studied theater at an arts academy in northern Michigan. I should have been happy for my friend when she got the lead in a play, but I wasn’t. Instead, I was annoyed because I thought that role should have been mine. While the play was still being rehearsed, my friend returned to Ohio with a medical emergency. Did I pray for her? Of course not; I was a self-involved teenager and my only prayer was one of thanks because the lead role became mine. The emergency, however, wasn’t that serious and she returned to school (and her part in the play) several days later. Did I say a prayer of thanksgiving for her? Of course not; being a self-involved teenager, I pouted and gave her the cold shoulder.
Within a day of having written yesterday’s words about trusting Jesus and following Him, God reminded me how difficult it is to actually do that. Granted, it wasn’t God’s voice we were following but His point was well taken. Mid-way through our 1,400 mile drive north, the GPS cautioned us of one accident after another within a few miles ahead of us. After the first such warning, I studied the map trying to find a detour but couldn’t seem to find a route that wouldn’t lead us right back into the accident area and the promised lane closures. When five accidents lay right in our path, not wanting to spend hours in a traffic jam, we reluctantly decided to let the GPS lead us around the congestion. Following its guidance, my husband exited the interstate while I kept trying to figure out what route we’d be taking. Although the GPS screen always indicated the direction of the next turn, we never knew the long-range plan for returning to the highway. We simply had to trust the GPS and take it one turn at a time. Of course, with my trusty map, I tried to second-guess the GPS the entire way. I just couldn’t cede complete control to that sweet calm voice directing us. Without any help from me, however, that voice got us back on the interstate well north of all of the accidents and congestion.
around me, myself and I: my toys, my games, my friends, my wants, my school, my plans. As I matured, I became a little less self-involved but I have to admit that my priorities still revolved around me: my education, my husband, my children, my family, my projects, my future! All of these are important, but no matter how much I love my husband, children and grandchildren, and no matter how worthwhile my projects or causes, none of these should be my first priority. That should always be God.
We were strolling through downtown during a street festival when we came upon the “bird lady.” With three parrots on her shoulders, she was surrounded by a number of people. I assumed she was a street entertainer who expected to be paid for pictures with the birds. As I ventured closer, however, she offered to let me hold one of her parrots. Never having touched a bird, I accepted her offer, anticipating a request for money. While the colorful bird wandered up and down my arm, the woman offered me a little food to give the beautiful animal. As my husband grabbed the camera from my purse, I kept looking for the tip jar or expecting to be asked for a “donation.” Instead, when I returned the bird, she handed me a small leaflet, saying “Here’s something about Jesus.” When I responded “God bless you” she said, “If you know Him, pass it on!” The crowd closed in and we continued walking on our way. Another person would soon experience three friendly parrots, an interesting woman, some Christian love and God’s good news. It was a mini-example of God’s grace. While I kept thinking I had to pay for the encounter, it came at no cost to me; it was given out of love—love of Jesus! Unexpected, undeserved and free—that’s grace in a nutshell!
