The Road To Humility

My brother and I recently had a conversation about humility.  We both reflected on various lessons that life had taught us.  Somehow we transitioned into what we both thought was a great example of the road not to take to humility.

My brother began to describe what he took from the story of King Nebuchadnezzar found in Daniel chapter 4.  My brother recalled how Nebuchadnezzar was a king who was on top. He then forgot God in all of the pomp and circumstance, verse 30 says, "The king spoke saying, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”.  At that moment, verse 31 says that Nebuchadnezzar began his journey to humility but he first had a stop at a place called CRAZY!

This is the same King who had seen God's might with the three Hebrew boys - Shadrach, Meshach & Abed-nego in the previous chapter (Daniel 3).  But how easily he had forgotten and quickly fell into being filled by the praises of man. In our instant gratification society, this is an easy trap.  Everything around us tells us that we should have it all, have it now & enjoy the recognition that comes with it!  This is a gross distortion that often leads to a humility filled experience.

Once Nebuchadnezzar realized the error of his ways and lifted his eyes to heaven, the Bible says his understanding came back.  So many times in life it is the "traumatic experiences" that teach us the greatest lessons if we are simply willing to look back, take notes, push through our fears and apply those lessons.

Nebuchadnezzar forgot the lesson(s) he learned/witnessed in Chapter 3 and therefore had to go through a worse experience so the lesson(s) could be learned.

Are you or someone you know on the road to humility?  I pray you bypass Nebuchadnezzar's path...

Blessings,
-d