Pride --- It's not limited to men

"You have such well-behaved children."

"Your house is absolutely beautiful."

"I don't know of anyone who's worked harder on this project than you."

"When you teach/pray/instruct/write I get so much out of it."

Scripture encourages us to affirm, exhort, and edify others with our words.

But what happens when we're on the receiving end of thanks, affirmation, and praise?

We know how to be good losers, but do we know how to be good winners?


In the Kingdom, a bad winner is even more dangerous than a bad loser.

 King Nebuchadnezzar was one of the greatest kings of Babylon, yet despite God's warning, he persisted in pride and self-exaltation.

 "As the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, 'Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?'" he said in Daniel 4:29-30.

Instead of recognizing that everything he had and all he had accomplished was because of God's blessing, he took all the credit.


He stole God's glory.

 
 And "the words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, 'This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes,'" God said to him. (Daniel 4:31-32).
 
We shake our heads at the presumption of Nebuchadnezzar, but how many times are we, too, guilty of pride? How often do we steal God's glory? When someone praises us, are we quick to acknowledge it (graciously, of course), and keep it for ourselves, or do we direct the praise back to the One who makes every accomplishment possible?

"What do you have that you did not receive?" Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 4:7. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father . . . " (James 1:17).

God has given every talent, ability, and skill we possess. He gives us the strength in our bodies, breath in our lungs, and brains in our skulls. He gives us relationships, jobs, position, and prosperity. 

We give nothing to the world but that which was given to us. Like the orphaned child begging on the street is rescued and adopted as a son, so we have been given a place and a purpose in God's kingdom.

After seven years of living like an animal, King Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses. "I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34).

Nebuchadnezzar got it, though the realization came at great cost. 

May we learn from his example to direct all glory, honor, and praise to the God who makes all things possible. 

May we never steal God's glory.

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Rev. 7:12).

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