The Problem of Pride
In Jeremiah 29:11 the prophet wrote to the people of God, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This is one of the most well-known passages in the scriptures. But it’s also one of the most misinterpreted.
Usually this verse is used on someone who is discouraged about their marital status, or their career, or other circumstances in life, to say, “Hang in there; God has a better plan for your life.” But sometimes God’s better plan for our lives is to humbly trust Him to use us where we are to be a blessing to others.
During the time of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon had already begun to carry some of the Jews into exile. The total invasion and destruction of Jerusalem was just a few years away.
So in Jeremiah 29:11, the prophet is writing to say to the people of God, who were under judgment, that God had not forsaken them. In Jeremiah 29:10 the prophet reassures his people that after 70 years they would return to Jerusalem.
Now, it is in this context that God promises His people that He has a plan for good, not evil—to give them a future and a hope. But keep in mind that God’s plan was not only about His people’s return to Jerusalem. During the 70 years in exile, His plan was also for the present generation to humbly seek the welfare of Babylon. They were to bloom where they were planted and be lights in the darkness. (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
Similarly, God’s plan for our lives may not involve a change of career, a change in scenery, or going to a different church that offers more programs. What we may need most, which will bring meaning to our lives, is not a new plan for our lives, but to rediscover God’s plan, namely to put on the mind of Christ and humbly seek the interests of others and not just our own (Philippians 2:1-4). Henry Ward Beecher said, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
“Surveys suggest a third of all church-attenders will be in a different congregation in five years. Many modern worshipers are consumer-driven, and when they grow disgruntled, don’t like the music, have a conflict with someone, or find a church with better programming — they’re off. There are rare occasions when we need to change churches, but sometimes all we need to change is our attitudes.” -Robert J. Morgan
With this in mind, consider 3 hard lessons that King Nebuchadnezzar learned about the problem of pride.
1. The Dangers of Prosperity
2. The Downfall of the Prideful
3. The Deliverance of the Penitent
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Usually this verse is used on someone who is discouraged about their marital status, or their career, or other circumstances in life, to say, “Hang in there; God has a better plan for your life.” But sometimes God’s better plan for our lives is to humbly trust Him to use us where we are to be a blessing to others.
During the time of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon had already begun to carry some of the Jews into exile. The total invasion and destruction of Jerusalem was just a few years away.
So in Jeremiah 29:11, the prophet is writing to say to the people of God, who were under judgment, that God had not forsaken them. In Jeremiah 29:10 the prophet reassures his people that after 70 years they would return to Jerusalem.
Now, it is in this context that God promises His people that He has a plan for good, not evil—to give them a future and a hope. But keep in mind that God’s plan was not only about His people’s return to Jerusalem. During the 70 years in exile, His plan was also for the present generation to humbly seek the welfare of Babylon. They were to bloom where they were planted and be lights in the darkness. (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
Similarly, God’s plan for our lives may not involve a change of career, a change in scenery, or going to a different church that offers more programs. What we may need most, which will bring meaning to our lives, is not a new plan for our lives, but to rediscover God’s plan, namely to put on the mind of Christ and humbly seek the interests of others and not just our own (Philippians 2:1-4). Henry Ward Beecher said, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
“Surveys suggest a third of all church-attenders will be in a different congregation in five years. Many modern worshipers are consumer-driven, and when they grow disgruntled, don’t like the music, have a conflict with someone, or find a church with better programming — they’re off. There are rare occasions when we need to change churches, but sometimes all we need to change is our attitudes.” -Robert J. Morgan
With this in mind, consider 3 hard lessons that King Nebuchadnezzar learned about the problem of pride.
1. The Dangers of Prosperity
Daniel chapter 4 is an account of a season in Nebuchadnezzar’s life that changed his heart and led him to repent of his pride before God and the entire nation. As we will see, the events in Nebuchadnezzar’s life involved losing everything that he cherished and that lifted him up in pride. Nebuchadnezzar begins his story of transformation by stating, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace” (Daniel 4:4-6). Is it wrong to own a house and enjoy the comforts of home? It’s not a sin to own or to enjoy certain material possessions. But there is a danger. Oftentimes the material things we possess begin to possess us (Matthew 6:21). Nebuchadnezzar had the privilege of personally witnessing great displays of God’s power and as a result he acknowledged God’s sovereignty over all other powers. But although he saw and had acknowledged God’s sovereignty, he continued to live his life as if he was the captain of his own soul. He did not use his power and influence to serve God’s purposes.
On the contrary, the comforts and prosperity that he had only added to his false sense of security and invincibility. Although enjoying comfort and prosperity is not necessarily a sin, they can easily become an obstacle to the greater things God wants to do in and through our lives. But because as humans we often value the temporal over the eternal, the material over the sacred, possessions over people, and finances over family, it often takes the shaking up of our personal kingdoms to grasp what matters most.
In the case of Nebuchadnezzar, God in his mercy began to shake things up in his life. And it all started with a dream. And like he experienced before, the wise men, the magicians, and the astrologers that he called on to interpret the nightmare were unable to give an interpretation, that is except for Daniel. (See Daniel 4:8-17)
After insisting that Daniel, who he came to trust, share the meaning of the dream, Daniel respectfully complies. Beginning in verse 24 we read: "This is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 4:24-25).
2. The Downfall of the Prideful
Like the tree that touched the sky providing food and shelter for beasts and birds, was chopped down in the dream, so too would Nebuchadnezzar be brought down. He would not only lose his power and prosperity, he would also lose his mind and his humanity. But notice that in verse 26, Daniel explains: “And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.” Even though Nebuchadnezzar would also fall and be brought low, the command in the dream to leave the stump of the roots of the tree is a sign of hope.
Although Nebuchadnezzar would go through a time of judgement described as “seven periods of time” in verse 23, he would be lifted up again. Seven in the bible is the number for completion. In other words, when the time was complete, and Nebuchadnezzar was convinced in his heart that Heaven rules—that God was in charge of the universe not him, his kingship would be restored to him. But notice that Daniel also appealed to Nebuchadnezzar to give his heart to God even before this period of humbling began. In verse 27 Daniel pleas: “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
It appears that Nebuchadnezzar's fate could have been avoided if he would only heed the merciful warning, and repent of his pride. Do you know that the essence of sin is a prideful act of independence from God? It’s thinking you know how to run your own life better than God. Therefore before learning the hard way that he’s not the master of his fate, Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar to demonstrate a heart of true repentance from his prideful ways by practicing righteousness and showing compassion for those in need—by seeking the interests of others and not just his own.
Sadly, he did not heed the gracious warning of Daniel to humble himself or be humbled. Although it doesn’t appear that he resented Daniel for speaking hard truth into his life, Nebuchadnezzar did not act upon the warnings. Sometimes when we delay to obey, we mistake God’s patience for God’s permission. The longer you delay to humbly obey, the greater the likelihood that you won’t, or that it will take you having to learn some hard lessons before you finally do. (See Daniel 4:29-33)
Foolishly, rather than heeding the gracious warnings of his dream and turning his gaze to God in humility, Nebuchadnezzar turns his gaze to the greatness of his kingdom. History tells us that there was much beauty to admire and to be fascinated by in the ancient kingdom of Babylon. The hanging gardens, which are considered one of the seven wonders of the world, were built by Nebuchadnezzar. The Ancient Greek historian Herodotus records that parts of the walls of the city of Babylon, which were 56 miles long, were so wide that chariots driven by four horses could ride and turn on top of them.
So, as he walked on the roof of his royal palace, instead of looking out and praising God for allowing him to breathe fresh air, he begins to glorify himself for what he thinks he accomplished in his own power. And as soon as he began to lift himself up, a voice from heaven pronounced his fate, and his demise began to quickly unfold. The prideful king would become like a wild animal. He would lose everything he pridefully cherished, including his mind. He would personally experience the warning of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
3. The Deliverance of the Penitent
After living like an animal for seven periods of times, which some commentators believe means seven years, we read in verse 34: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever…” Nebuchadnezzar's restoration began when he looked away from himself and lifted his eyes to heaven, which was a sign of repentance, and proceeded to praise and give glory to God. He was not the self made man that he thought he was. He owed everything to God and so do we.
When we take our eyes off of the things of heaven and set our hearts on the things of this earth, we forget where we came from, we forget that even our breath is in God’s hand. When we forget to thank God and give Him the glory for all that He’s done and all that He’s created for our good, we will begin to look to lesser things to do for us what only God can. (Romans 1:21-32)
How do we keep from being lifted up in pride to our own destruction? We must never forget to give praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is and all that He graciously provides for our good and His glory. We must, like Nebuchadnezzar, stop looking to this world to find our value and worth, but instead lift up our eyes to heaven and find our worth in all that God is for us in Christ. When we fail to look to God’s sovereign rule over our lives, and God in His grace warns us, we must be quick to humble ourselves before Him and repent. And the sign of true repentance is that like King Jesus who was equal with God but humbled Himself to become a servant and a savior to all, we cease looking out only for our own interest and begin looking out for the welfare of others wherever God has planted us.
No matter how low you may have fallen in your pride and forgetfulness, because Jesus humbled Himself to die on a cross for us, when we humble ourselves, and surrender to Him, He will lift us up again so that we can know His restoring grace and make it known in our world. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
In your service,
Pastor Marco