Scripture Text: 1 John 2:16

The Bible teaches us that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is particularly true for monarchs, who are exposed to the temptations of pride more than the average person.

The pride of life is rooted in worldliness and a love for what the culture deems as achievements. It removes God from His throne and places the self in the seat instead of recognising His grace as the reason for what we have.

First John 2:15–16 warns against loving the world, explaining its dangers of pride. Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to tempt Jesus into failing and not being proven perfect and blameless. Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian king, struggled with this pride problem. He had a dream about a tree feeding the whole world, but later saw the tree being cut down. The prophet Daniel informed him that the monarch was the tree who would be cut down and advised him to turn from his sinful ways, live righteously, and show mercy to the poor.

Nebuchadnezzar managed to humble himself for a while after hearing the prophet's message. As Babylon continued to grow in prosperity and win battles, he proclaimed that he built the house of the kingdom with the might of his power and in honour of his majesty. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar lost everything. Pride can also bring Christians to a place where they lose access to the kingdom of God, just as it did with the devil.

In the book of Esther, Haman is a prime example of self-destructive pride in the Bible. He was angry with Mordecai, a Jew who saved his life from an assassination plot, and wanted to kill all the Jews in the land. Haman's inflated pride led him to boast about his wealth, children, and advancements above the princes and servants of the king. When Mordecai refused to show reverence, Haman decided to build a gallows from which to hang Mordecai, hoping that Xerxes would give him permission due to his high royal standing.

Pride, a distorted mirror that obstructs clear thinking and reason, allowed Haman to see only himself. Filled with conceit, Haman thought in his heart, ‘Whom would the king delight to honour more than me?’ The noble devised the most extravagant procession for himself, riding on the king's horse, in the king's robes, with the king's crown upon his head, parading up and down the city streets for all to honor. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” and this couldn't be truer for Haman, who spoke as if he wanted desperately to be the king.

The story of Haman is a great example of the ultimate payout of pride, as he was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. The Bible says, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame” (Proverbs 11:2).

Uzziah, a tragic king of Judah, was initially a reformer who tried to serve God but ultimately led to his downfall. God reveals seven lessons regarding the dangers of pride: complacency, ungratefulness, self-reliance, covetousness, spiritual blindness, judgement, and public shame or humiliation.

Uzziah's reign began in 767 B.C. and lasted 52 years, from age 16 until he was 68 years old. Judah was in disarray when his reign began, and out of pride, Amaziah began a war against Northern Israel that God did not command or condone. Uzziah was a reformer who initially refused to follow many of his father's mistakes and initially trusted God. However, his pride led him to become complacent and tolerate pagan worship, which eventually led to his downfall.

Uzziah's downfall serves as a warning to all believers to never allow spiritual success to lead to complacency. Satan will try to pull them off their walk with God when they let their guard down. Tolerating evil in one's life is a snare that leads to greater sin and pain. It is crucial for believers to avoid complacency and strive for a more righteous walk with God.

Uzziah's failure to thank God for his wealth, security, and power led him to become ungrateful and destructive. He failed to give credit to God for his victories, leading him to believe that he was responsible for his victories, which in turn led to pride and his downfall. The Bible makes clear that God helped Uzziah until he made himself strong, but he failed to understand that he was separating himself from God as he sought to become self-reliant and independent through his wealth, security, and status.

Saul, the first King of Northern Israel, also committed similar sins, disobeying God's prophet and taking on the role of the priests. Moses warned the Jews not to be presumptuous by acting without the direction of God's appointed Levite priests, as failure to do so would result in judgment. Uzziah, Jeroboam, and Saul all presumed they could fulfil the role of God's priests when that was not their role.

The Jews also committed the sin of presumption by trying to invade the Promised Land after God judged them and told them that the first generation would need to die off in the wilderness because of their sins. It is crucial to never assume that you are following God's will when disobeying His Word or acting on your own. Always read the Word and pray for His guidance, as failing to do so may lead your flesh astray.

Satan, the father of pride, seeks your destruction through pride. His pride caused his downfall, as he believed he would ascend to heaven and become like the Most High. However, those who saw him would force him down to Sheol, where they would question him. Pride is one of the worst sins against God, and Uzziah's pride led to his downfall. In conclusion, pride can cause unholy things and lead to the pursuit of absolute power.

Satan's goal is to create chaos by causing God's people to rebel against His Word. He has led angels Eve, Adam, and Eve to rebel against God's rules, and he becomes the father of those who rebel. Rebellion is considered a sign of an "evil man," and according to Solomon, it is part of the spirit of "the prince of the power of the air." Samuel also referred to rebellion as the sin of witchcraft.

The Jews' lack of faith led to their repeated rebellion against God and Moses, leading to their being banished to the desert. Satan created a counterfeit to deceive people, offering strife, death, and misery for those who rebelled and followed Satan. It is important not to surrender to covetousness or one's own understanding, as Uzziah did not seek God's guidance in prayer. Spiritual blindness can cause one to become spiritually blind to sin, as seen in the rebuke of Uzziah by Azariah the High Priest.

Turning from God can also harden one's heart, making it harder for the Holy Spirit to guide them. Even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks. Their foolish hearts were darkened, and the Lord poured over their eyes and hearts. If God has allowed hardship to enter one's life or rebuked them, examine their life for any unconfessed sin.


Unrepentant pride can lead to God's judgement, as seen in Uzziah's leprosy. Leprosy causes the victim to lose feeling, leading to nerve endings in the infected skin and the loss of appendages. Sin causes the victim to become numb to the pain it causes, leading to feelings of impurity and greed. Pain receptors help prevent injuries from worsening, and unchecked sin can dampen the Holy Spirit's ability to convict one of their sins.

God will judge those who live in a world governed by pride and covetousness. Satan, like Uzziah, was blessed with power as one of God's most important angels. Like Uzziah, Satan caused him to covet God's power. Those who rebel out of coveting also violate God's Tenth Commandment and disqualify a person from heaven.

Illness can cause repentance. If a person lives in rebellion, God can allow them to become sick to bring them to repentance. The Lord will smite them with consumption, fever, inflammation, fiery heat, sword, blight, and mildew, and they will pursue them until they perish.

When God reveals your sins, repent. Saul and Uzziah failed to acknowledge their sins, and God judged them only after Samuel failed to repent of his sins. When the High Priest Azariah revealed Uzziah's sins, Uzziah also failed to repent.

In conclusion, leprosy, sin, pride, and illness can all lead to spiritual and physical health issues. It is crucial to repent when God reveals your sins and teaches you the right path to forgiveness. By humble yourself and accepting correction, you can live a more fulfilling life and experience the blessings of God's grace.

God bless you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen!

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now. Come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil and enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray, amen.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read:
https://salvationcall.com/pride-life/
https://inspiredscripture.com/bible-studies/2-chronicles-26#gsc.tab=0
https://livingproof.co/the-dangers-of-pride-in-the-bible-and-tips-for-overcoming-it/