SCRIPTURE:
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
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16 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.
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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. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. 21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 26:16, 26:19-21
OBSERVATION:
It’s easy to honor God when you’re powerless, but what about when you’re powerful? And what are the consequences when we fail to honor him at all times?
2 Chronicles 26 regales the history of Uzziah, a King of Judah. At the beginning of his reign, Uzziah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” and “as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26:4-5). However, “after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 26:16). And because he was prideful, “King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).
While humility allowed Uzziah to rise in power and influence, pride was his downfall. Why? Because God was the one who uplifted Uzziah. It was not Uzziah’s gifts, skills, or talents that allowed him to thrive––it was God that allowed Him to thrive. Uzziah’s humility, faithfulness, and obedience to God that allowed Him to elevate Uzziah. As James writes, "But [God] gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble”...Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:6, 4:10).”
When we take on a lowly posture of humility, God raises us up, for He knows that we know He is our source. When we take on a higher posture of pride, God allows us to fall down, for He knows that apart from Him, we can do nothing.
APPLICATION:
When you look back on your life, how are you doing at honoring God? Do you honor Him only when you need him? Do you give Him glory in both the good and bad? Do you approach God in pride or in humility?
As the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” Every good thing you have is from God. It is He who has blessed you, elevated you, and given you the influence that you have. As John the Baptist says in John 3:27, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.”
Every good thing that you have, have experienced, and have enjoyed has come from God. Like Uzziah, it is not your gifts, your skill, or your talents that allowed you to thrive––it was God alone. And also like Uzziah, it will be your humility, faithfulness, and obedience to God that will allow Him to elevate you.
Today, choose humility over pride. Choose a posture of lowliness over arrogance, and faithfulness over haughtiness. For if you do, God will elevate you to new heights. And if you don’t, God will allow you to fall, not because He hates you, but because the reality is that “apart from [Him,] you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for Your love, Your provision, and Your grace. I repent for the times I have chosen pride over humility, and anything else above You. Forgive me. Apart from You, I can do nothing, and apart from You, I desire to do nothing. I lay down my rights, I give up my pride, and I surrender all to You. Have Your way in me, and lead me in Your everlasting way. All I am is Yours.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
