The Chilling Consequences of Pride

God looks favorably on the humble. Pride, on the other hand, is something that God warns people to avoid. Proverbs 16:19 says "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 29:23 takes it further; "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." King Hezekiah is an example of how humility can be replaced by pride, and the staggering consequences that unchecked pride can bring.

In 2 Kings 19:14-20, king Hezekiah's heart is humble. He understands that God is the One who can intervene on his behalf. A strong enemy has sent the king a very threatening letter that demanded the king surrender and pronounced doom if the king resisted. Instead of mobilizing soldiers or turning himself and the people over to the enemy, the king went to the temple, spread the letter out before God, and prayed. Because the king placed his confidence in God, God spoke to the prophet and the prophet sent word to Hezekiah that his prayer had been heard. The strong enemy was defeated without a battle.

A while later, king Hezekiah became sick and God sent the prophet to tell the king to set his affairs in order; he was going to die. Hezekiah turned to God again in prayer and fifteen years were added to his life. While Hezekiah was sick, the king of Babylon somehow heard of the sickness and sent him letters and a present. Hezekiah's responded by taking the messengers on a grand tour through his home, the armory, and the entire kingdom. The Bible says there was nothing that the king did not show the messengers from Babylon.

What in the world would cause Hezekiah to expose all his resources and the resources of the entire kingdom to the king of Babylon? Somewhere along the way, a seed of pride had dropped into Hezekiah's heart and pride was now in control. Hezekiah was proud of all he possessed. But God was not pleased. When the king finished showing off everything that God had given him, the prophet came again and spoke chilling words. Everything the king had showed to the messengers was going to be carried off to Babylon...nothing would be left.

The "moral of this story" is this. Jesus was a constant example of humility, and He left us instructions founded in the humility that he exhibited. "Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29 [italics added]

Note: all Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

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