About Pride
“And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this!”
Pride is one of the most common sins, if not the root of all sins. It is the attitude that looks down on those around it. Pride is assuming oneself to be above others, sometimes even above God. This pride may stem from an impression that we have superior knowledge, wealth, or position.
We all learn the hard way! We are certain that we are too clever or too special to make mistakes. Belshazzar knew the whole story of Nebuchadnezzar’s descent into insanity, yet he followed the same destructive path of arrogance.
Pride gives us a false sense of security. We believe ourselves so clever that we will avoid all problems. Pride and arrogance are not proper attitudes with which to approach God.
Daniel, when called to interpret the dream, wasted no time in telling the king that his days were numbered. His kingdom would soon belong to another.
We can be replaced. Belshazzar was gone that night, succeeded by Darius. Jesus warned that from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required. (Luke 12:48 NRSVA) Belshazzar failed the test.
For Reflection: What has been given to me? What is expected of me in return?
A Prayer Seed:
O for a heart to praise my God!
A heart from sin set free;
A heart that always feels Thy blood,
So freely shed for me.
Charles Wesley, 1742
