Scripture Passage: Daniel 4

We all want to be confident in the way God calls us to live. We want our lives to reflect God’s goodness and character and set a good example for others. There is, however, a fine line between walking in confidence and walking in pride. The Scriptures teach us how to walk in humility with the Father.

1. The Delicate Balance of Confidence and Pride
Humility is often seen as walking around telling yourself you’re “no good”, but that is not a biblical view of humility. Pride can be both positive (confidence) and negative (arrogance). Daniel faced a difficult task when he had to be honest with Nebuchadnezzar about his dream, yet he spoke it confidently and used the talents God gave him to be obedient.

2. The Elusiveness of Humility
One of the easiest ways we can deceive ourselves is to think that we do not need more humility. Nebuchadnezzar’s life illustrates a caution we should heed. Having been humbled twice before, and now a third time through this interpretation of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar continued living in arrogance.

Working on humility is the hardest thing for a prideful person to do. The cure to pride is not a focus on being more humble, because the focus is still on yourself! To truly work on humility, you have to look beyond yourself. Set your gaze on the things that carry eternal weight. There is no place more humbling than to stand beside the cross of Jesus Christ and staring at the wonder of what He did for you.

3. The Inevitability of Humility
Nebuchadnezzar found himself on the rooftop of pride. Rooftops are a dangerous place to be. A rooftop has the best place to look down at other things. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride got the best of him and he ended up acting like an animal for seven years. The warning is this: If you try to act like you’re God, the Real God is going to humble you.

Remember that it is not too late to look to God and surrender to Him. God, in His grace, gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months to repent. It is not too late for any of us to do the same.

Talk About It
What are some things in your life that could be a palace rooftop that you use to look down on the world?

Describe a time you were in a situation where you had to swallow your pride and show humility.

What does it mean to you to see true biblical humility played out in your life?