Pride Comes Before A Fall

The saying means that if you are too confident about yourself, something bad will happen to show you that you are not as good as you think you are.

Daniel 4:1-37

Reference: v.30 He [Nebuchadnezzar] said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (TNIV Bible)

Explore: Pride comes before a fall.  This is a saying that I learned early in life when one of my teachers picked up on a fellow student who was boasting about their sporting ability.  I was never the kind of student to boast about athletic ability but the teacher used the situation as a chance to teach us all about humility.  The saying means that if you are too confident about yourself, something bad will happen to show you that you are not as good as you think you are.  This isn’t about karma or fate but often when people boast about their own abilities they become lazy and stop trying so hard.  It’s at this time that failure can come knocking on the door.

Application: This kind of pride is certainly not on God’s top characteristic list!  God often promoted those who were humble and in Christ’s ministry he was quick to condemn the arrogance of the powerful and build up the confidence of the downcast. Even King Nebuchadnezzar could not escape the teaching of God.  When he boasted about his power and ability to build a nation God brought him to the lowest of positions.  It was in this lowly place that Nebuchadnezzar really understood and appreciate the glory of the King of Heaven.  All of us have a tendency to become proud of our own achievements.  While a positive self-esteem is good we must be careful not to take the glory from God when it is through Him that all things are possible.

Prayer: Lord God, forgive my pride.  Help me to not rest on my own ability but to give all power and glory to You. Amen.

When do you find pride creeping into your life?

Daniel, humility, pride