5/9/09 THE DANGER OF PRIDE

Scripture - Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. By the beauty and wisdom given by God You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendour I cast you to the ground, I laid you before the kings that they might gaze at you.”

Observations – This word has a dual meaning – referring to Lucifer and to the king of Tyre. The sin is one of pride – to be lifted up by the beauty and wisdom given by God. He thought he was good because of attributes given by God. This is a dangerous deception. If we learn from this we will give God the glory for everything that He gives us. When pride gets hold of us we shall end up falling and what we have will be corrupted – such as has happened to the devil.

Application – We can all make this mistake. God wants us to be wise and beautiful and flourishing, but not at the expense of our correct attitude towards Him. May all that God gives us be greatly used and appreciated – but He should get all the glory. It would have been untrue for the King of Tyre to deny his beauty and wisdom. He needed to give glory where glory was due.

Prayer – Thank you Lord for all you have given to us – because of your desire and your choice. All I have that is good is from you, and all that is corrupt comes from another source.