You can climb too high for your own good. The story of David and Bathsheba is less a story of lust and more a story of power. A story of a man who rose too high for his won good. A man who needed to hear these words: "Come down before you fall."
"First pride, then the crash- the bigger the ego, the harder the fall." (Proverbs 16:18 MSG)
This must be why God hates arrogance. He hates to see his children fall. He hates to see his Davids suduce and his Bathshebas be victimized. God hates what pride does to his children. He doesn't dislike arrogance. He hates it. Could he state it any clearer than Proverbs 8:13: "I hate pride and arrogance." (NIV)? And then a few chapters later: "God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place" (16:5 MSG).
You don't want God to do that. Just ask David. He never quite recovered from his bout with this giant. Don't make his mistake. 'Tis far wiser to descend the mountain than fall from it.
Pursue humility. Humility doesn't mean you think less of yourself but that you think of yourself less. "Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you" (Romans 12:3 Phillips).
Embrace your poverty. We're all equally broke and blessed. "People come into this world with nothing, and when they die they leave with nothing" (Eccles. 5:15 NCV)
Resist the place of celebrity. "Go sit in a seat that is not important. When the host comes to you, he may say, 'Friend, move up here to a more important place.' Then all the othere guests will respect you" (Luke 14:10 NCV).
Wouldn't you rather be invited up than put down?
God has a cure for the high and mighty: come down from the mountain. You'll be amazed what you hear and who you see. And you'll breathe a whole lot easier.
Max Lucado
From Facing Your Giants
Copyright 2006, Thomas Nelson Publishers
