“You are not doing anything about your future if you have not done anything about your character.” so says the preacher.

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In life, there was really a day everyone was given birth. And there’s surely going to be another day for departure. Your departure time is largely and solely determined by your maker. He brought you into this world and without any doubt, He’s going to take you away when he feels you have either elapsed your stay or misused it, based on what and how you used the few years given to you, as said by Job.

"Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. …Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. Job 14:1-2,5 NIV

We will be taking these destiny destroying traits or characters in steps, of which we will be dealing with Pride today, taking the life of Nebuchadnezzar as a case study.

PRIDE

As taken from Google, Pride, in my context is “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” ^source

From the definition above, it is clear to us that one could easily take glory to himself of his/her material possessions and achievements. That is why from the story found about King Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible, we understood that the King’s heart was lifted up to adore and give praises to himself of all that he was able to achieve, forgetting the fact that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...” James 1:17 KJV

²⁸ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. ³⁰ 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? Daniel 4:28-30

Just while the above statement was still in the mouth of King Nebuchadnezzar, the judgment of the Lord fell on him because he gave glory to himself, of which the bible said God doesn’t share his glory with any man. The king was finally driven from among men into the forest where he was humbled by the dew of heaven day and night, living like the wild beasts in the forest for seven years.

³¹ While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. ³² And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. ³³ The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown Daniel 4:31-33

LET’S SEE SOME CONSEQUENCES OF PRIDE

1. Pride goes before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
2. Pride disconnects people from the presence of God
3. Pride will cost people their life in eternity
4. Pride deprives people from the grace of God. James 4:6

The above are just a few of the many consequences of pride. But if one could sincerely repent and return to the almighty God, He will surely forgive us, as said in the scriptures that “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV. King Nebuchadnezzar also realized this aspect of the almighty God. He finally humbled himself and his senses return back to him.

³⁴ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

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Praise God his Kingdom was restored back to him!

HUMBLE YOURSELF.

⁶ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6 KJV

Thanks for reading through.

More on the pride series coming soon.