Daniel 4:30(KJV)
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian ruler who reigned over much of the civilized world. He is notorious for eliminating the Jewish presence in the Land of Israel, exiling most of them to Babylon, and destroying the first Holy Temple. Nebuchadnezzar had soaring ambitions of dominating the world and did not attempt to keep it a secret. He rose to power with the aggression of a roaring lion and struck fear into the hearts of men. In Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is given a dream by God; Daniel interpreted it and informed him that the king was to humble himself and recognize that his power, wealth, and influence were from God, not his own making. With the warning from God, Nebuchadnezzar erroneously thought that he was great by the might of his power; his assessment of his kingdom was the epitome of pride. Nebuchadnezzar was giving himself all the glory and crashed out of his throne on the platform of pride. Because he didn’t give God the honor, he was afflicted with boanthropy, a form of insanity in which Nebuchadnezzar thought he was an animal, eating grass for seven years. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of his kingdom for taking credit for building Babylon. After his ordeal, the king understood that the Most High ruled over all the earth and everything in it; even Babylon the great couldn’t compare to that.
Pride is the most dangerous and destructive character trait anyone can possess. It is a significant factor in the abortion of destiny (Isaiah 14:12-15, Genesis 3:5). It makes a person too puffed to be instructed. Pride is a sin before God; it defiles a person(Mark 7:21-23) and is a device that can easily be woven into anyone’s life. The spirit of pride spreads like cancer, and it becomes difficult to cure if care is not taken. It is an abomination to God and must be kept in check. Pride contradicts God’s most important command to love Him above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves. Pride seeks to set idols, that is, anything we hold important over God in our hearts, sending us on a wild and never-ending goose chase that steals the peace that Christ died to cleanse our lives. Viewing ourselves in the mirror of self-importance reflects a distorted image. Self-elevation positions us for a fall. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” The lifestyle of pride and arrogance is one of the easiest ways to crash in life. No matter how powerful or loaded with potential, walking in pride has no future. Many are so full of pride that they do not know that it is their pride that has gotten them grounded. Because of their pride, they make all manner of arrogantia statements. Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Beloved, pride is the foundation for destruction; it ruins lives and destinies. It can bring down a person from a high position. So, cultivate the right attitude for a quality destiny and avoid a life of pride and arrogance. Don’t put yourself in any situation where God has to resist you. Don’t overestimate yourself! Humble yourself and keep a watch on yourself. When you catch yourself getting puffed up with your own greatness, repent and remember that every good thing you enjoy and every bit of success you’ve had has come by the Grace of God and by His Power. No matter how powerful you are, no one is beyond God’s reach. Don’t become a legend in your own mind. Instead, humble yourself beneath the mighty Hand of God, and let God do the exalting—that prevents some very painful falls. Always remember that you are nothing if not for God. You did not do any better than those who are not yet at your level. What is it that you have that he did not receive? Any achievement that will not lead us back to the original Achiever, the Almighty God, is deadly. All glory belongs to God so, make it a habit to return all glory to God always. Today, repent of any lifestyle of pride and arrogance.
O Lord, deliver me from every trace of pride and help me to remember that I am nothing without You in Jesus’ Name.