Uzziah, Pride

Uzziah, Pride

By Heather Collver

What is wrong with Pride anyway? Isn’t it okay to be proud of what you have, what you have become?

Uzziah was not satisfied being a mortal king. His success was certainly something to be proud of. He had it all. He had power, security, popularity, armies. He was the “man”, “big daddy”, the “bomb”. Although he sought the Lord for most everything, Uzziah was convinced he had a bigger purpose, he had better things to conquer.

2 Chronicles 26:8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.

Uzziah longed for more power, more influence. He had never destroyed the places of idol worship among those who did not worship God. Did he truly believe there was only one true God. Did he aknowledge his power was the strength of the Lord, by which he was named? Scripture does not tell us. But it does tell us that he was instructed in God’s Word.

2 Chronicles 26:16,18 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."

It was at that moment God reminded him who he was. In that moment Uzziah was afflicted with Leprocy.

2 Chronicles 26:19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD's temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead.

There are other times that God chose to afflict those he put in high positions in order to bring them back down to their mortal levels. Daniel warned King “Neb” to turn from his sins and a year later Neb was afflicted with animalistic behavior with the mentality of a beast.

Can you think of a time you were prideful? What did it take to bring you back down to your mortal level? Are you still struggling with pride? What will it take? Can I be so bold here to suggest that you turn from pride, fast. In fact, why don’t you run from it now, fast!!!

Dear Lord, thank you for your example on Pride. Why we are always looking for something else just baffles me. Why we can’t be completely joyful and overflowing with where we are today, I don’t know. I am guilty of such acts myself. I do know you are asking us to do what we can with the gifts you give us, help us not get greedy. You are awesome, Lord. I praise you.

Please pray for those in your life that need a little knee time with God. Not as a judgement by all means, we all need work with pride. Keep in mind that this is a time to pray for them to be changed by the love of God.