To Encourage You

James 4:6 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So, as you read the verse above, which side of the word “but” would you rather be on? The Scriptures give us many examples of those who were on the wrong side.  Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of his day.  At least that’s how he saw himself.  Listen to his words from Daniel 4, and then notice the consequences: “’Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?’ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.’ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.” And so Nebuchadnezzar learned the truth of James 4:6.  Listen to his change of attitude after his sanity was restored: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).

In the New Testament we have the account of another proud king, King Herod.  In Acts 12:21-23 we are told this: “On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man!’ Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” 

In more recent times we have the story of people like Adolph Hitler, Nicolae Ceausescu, and Saddam Hussein. All were proud and arrogant leaders whose lives came to a gruesome end.  God opposes the proud, any of them.  And He will most certainly humble them.  For some, like Nebuchadnezzar, there is an opportunity to repent and turn around. For others, no such opportunity is given.  Yet, many examples are given to us in the Scriptures so that we won’t follow them on the broad road that leads to destruction.  You see, the proud have no need of God – at least they don’t think so.  They are self-sufficient.  They are so full of themselves.  But they are opposed by the omnipotent God. 

So, how do you see yourself? Are you humble or proud?  Do you see yourself as king of your world? Do you see yourself as a good person, yet you’ve never submitted your life to God?  If so, you may want to reconsider, for that’s the attitude of the proud.  It’s the view of those who think they can stand on their own two feet, but whom God warns “let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

May the almighty God keep us from an attitude that He will always oppose, for it’s those who “humble (themselves) in sight of the Lord (that He) will lift . . . up” (James 4:10).