“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. “ – 2 Chronicles 26:16
As the saying goes, “Pride goeth before the fall.” That was certainly true for King Uzziah. He was very faithful and devoted to God as a young man. Over the years, God blessed him with tremendous success. So much so that Uzziah eventually forgot where all that success came from. He became proud of himself and all that he’d done. He began to think so highly of himself that he lost his concern for God’s Law. He felt comfortable taking the priest’s job in addition to his own. And he certainly paid the price for his pride!
Unfortunately, what happened to godly young King Uzziah easily happens to many who love the Lord and experience His abundant goodness and blessing. Over time, it becomes far too easy to forget that all our victories and blessings come from the Lord. We begin to believe what people so often say to us about how great we are. The temptation to elevate ourselves to places reserved for God grows and grows.
Uzziah’s story is the story of most Jesus-loving Christian leaders who ultimately fall into sin that wrecks their faith, family, and/or ministry. No follower of Jesus is ever immune to this temptation. The only way to protect against it is to be extremely aware of it at all times. The moment you think it could never happen to you is the moment you fall into serious danger.
Always be honest with yourself! What do you really think about yourself, your skills, your talents, and your accomplishments? How well do you remember to stay humble and depend on the Lord at all times, crediting Him for everything He has entrusted to you? #FollowJesus