By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

The story of King Nebuchadnezzar fascinates me. He was the king whose life changed dramatically when he saw God protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar afterwards ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship God.

For a time it went well with Nebuchadnezzar. His kingdom and influence continued to grow, but unfortunately, also the pride in his heart. One day he received a warning in a dream. He called Daniel to explain the dream: "It's not a good dream," Daniel started, "your kingdom is big, but if you do not learn to honour God, your power will be cut off and you will lose your mind and be forced to live like a wild animal for seven years. If you stop being proud and worship God, He will let you reign again.” It sounded strange.

The dream kept Nebuchadnezzar on the right track. But then, a year later, he walks on the palace's roof garden overlooking the city. Arrogantly he said: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). At that moment, he heard a voice from heaven: "Nebuchadnezzar, your royal authority has been taken from you. . . "

Everything happened as Daniel predicted. The king lost his mind. He had to flee out of the city. For seven years he lived like a wild animal in the field, eating grass like an ox. His hair grew and his nails looked like a bird's claws. He could not remember that he was a strong king who lived in a beautiful palace. He only recovered his mind  after seven years.. He realized that everything he had was by God’s grace. Only God is great and mighty. With a humble heart, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his palace where he reigned with even more power than before.

In Proverbs 16:18 we read: “Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.”In Psalm 138: 6 we read: “Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.”

Are you someone who likes to boast about what you have or what you have achieved? Do you take the credit or do you continue to give the glory to God? My prayer is that we will stop comparing ourselves with others and be grateful for what we have. Also that we will continue to ask God to purify our hearts from pride, so we will remember that what we have belongs to God and that we will give Him the glory for everything we achieve. God bless.

Father God, thank you for everything I have in my life. Help me to never take the honour but to remember that it is a gift from You. Please make me aware of any pride in my life. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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