Pride Before the Fall

How did pride enter the world? Satan, the manipulator and initiator of pride, thought himself to be greater than God, so he led a rebellion against God by convincing one-third of the angels to follow him. That spirit of pride is still actively working to manipulate, deceive, control, and destroy God’s people?

God wants us to understand the dangers of pride and to recognize it as a manipulative bondage that separates us from God and His will. The following scripture records Satan’s prideful heart, which led to his fall from heaven: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon (meaning concealed). I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ “But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15). Satan’s rebellion was refected in his prideful and repetitive, I will. He failed in his willful attempt to supersede God’s sovereign authority.

Pride is a thief that embraces soulish thoughts and opposes the things of the Spirit of God. Those thoughts settle in the heart, where the mind, will,and emotions reside. And it is in the heart where either false idols hold court or where God reigns.

What are false idols? Today, most people don’t bow down to carved idols and images. Instead, today’s idols sit on the altar of the ego-driven self, which places personal desires above God. The word, ego, has it origin in Latin, which translates, I myself.  It exudes pride, arrogance, bragging, conceit, selfishness, self-absorption, self-admiration, self-centeredness, rebellion and disobedience.

Ego and pride are co-conspirators in separating man from God. They look to self and not to God and work in tandem to undermine and usurp His authority. This duo claims credit for talent and accomplishments, demands appreciation, acknowledgment, and elevates self. Instead of seeking God for answers, the prideful ego trusts intellect to solve personal and world issues. However, mankind will never solve problems by taking the reins from God’s hands.

Those who rely on their own abilities do not comprehend God’s infinite, unlimited, creative powers (Job 38:1-11). Only He has the power to depense gifts and talents. Only He can deliver us from evil (Exodus 13:3). For He is our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Don’t misunderstand. A person can enjoy a feeling of satisfaction in his/her achievements, but only if there is an acknowledgement of God’s hand in making that success possible. For pride will always take personal credit and fail to acknowledge God.

King Belshazzar exemplified the destructive nature of pride and arrogance while he was hosting a party. He called for the gold and silver goblets that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had stolen from Jerusalem’s Temple. As he and his wives, concubines, and nobles drank wine from the sacred goblets, they saw fingers of a man’s hand, writing Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin on the plaster of the wall. The king was gripped with such terror that he collapsed (Daniel 5:5-6).

The king then summoned the Prophet Daniel, a wise interpreter of dreams, who as a boy, had been forcibly taken from Jerusalem to serve at the pleasure of the Babylonian king:

“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar, who long ago preceded you, a kingdom and majesty and glory and honor. [God] gave him such majesty that all the nations of the world trembled before him in fear. He killed any who offended him and spared any he liked. At his whim they rose or fell. But when his heart and mind were hardened in pride, God removed him from his royal throne and took away his glory. He was chased out of his palace into the fields. His thoughts and feelings became those of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys; he ate grass like the cows, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until at last he knew that the Most High overrules the kingdoms of men and appoints anyone He desires to reign over them” (Daniel 5:18-21).

Daniel continued, “And you, his successor, O Belshazzar—you knew all this, yet you have not been humble. For you have defied the Lord of Heavenand brought here these cups from His Temple; and you and your officers and wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not praised the God who gives  you the breath of life and controls your destiny! And so God sent those fingers to write this message: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.

            “This is what it means: Mene means ‘numbered’ —God has numbered the days of your reign, and they are ended. Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed in God’s balances and have failed the test. Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:22-28).

Belshazzar’s pride elevated his self-importance and carnal desires. He forgot that wisdom and power are God’s. He alone changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him (Daniel 2:20-22).

Man’s pride directs his own steps, but the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in His way (Psalm 37:23). Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

God has numbered our days. He is weighing us in the balances, but are we passing or failing the test. Belshazzar’s kingdom was ripped from him because he allowed pride and not God to rule his heart. Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself (ego/pride), and take up his cross and follow Me (Matthew 16:24-25).

A spirit of pride is exulting itself and fueling rebellion and evil in the world. We must be wise and discerning, for one day “all the glory of mankind will bow low; the pride of men will lie in the dust, and the Lord alone will be exalted” (Isaiah 2:17).

PRAYER: FATHER, Thank you for Your mercy. I humbly repent of any pride that would thwart Your plans for my life. I surrender my will to Your purposes. Guide me this day, and may I never forget that You give gifts and talents to be used in bringing glory, praise, and honor — not to me — but to You and Your holy name. In Jesus name, amen.