PRIDE A DANGEROUS WAY

Dangerous Territory

Opening: There is something about success that can quietly change a person. It rarely happens overnight. It begins with gratitude, but if we're not careful, gratitude turns into self-confidence, self-confidence turns into self-sufficiency, and self-sufficiency turns into arrogance.

An arrogant person doesn't necessarily say, "I don't believe in God." More often, they live as though they don't need Him. They begin to believe their success is the result of their own intelligence, talent, hard work, or determination. They start taking credit for what only God could have made possible.

Boastful people have one thing in common: they love the sound of their own accomplishments. Their conversations are filled with "I built," "I earned," "I accomplished," "I deserve." There is little room left for, "The Lord has blessed me."

The danger of arrogance is that it blinds us. Pride makes us think we're stronger than we are, wiser than we are, and more secure than we are. It convinces us that we are standing firmly when, in reality, we are standing on the edge of a fall.

The Bible warns us repeatedly:

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

History proves that kingdoms have fallen because of pride. Businesses have collapsed because of pride. Marriages have been destroyed because of pride. Ministries have been ruined because of pride. Careers have ended because people believed they were untouchable.

But the greatest tragedy is not losing a kingdom, a career, or a reputation. Jesus asked the most important question:

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

Today we come to one of the most remarkable chapters in all of Scripture. Daniel chapter 4 is the only chapter in the Bible written as the personal testimony of a pagan king. It is the story of the world's most powerful ruler who climbed to the highest peak of human success only to discover that the greatest enemy he faced was not another nation—it was his own pride.

Scripture: Daniel 4:28–37 “28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 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?” 31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. 34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”

Pride - KeVah - Arrogance, or overly confident

Point 1: Pride ignores blessings (interpretation of the dream)

V 28-30

One key note here is that no where in the scripture do we read about the King having some sort of mental health crisis. However in the writing of Eusebius of Caesarea we find historical documents leading us to the Kings illness and his reign ending at fourty three years. The King’s onset of insanity also brought about delusional ideas, thus the King’s dream he describes to Daniel who gives its interpretation before the King.

In these first three verses we see that the King is very boastful about the things that have been accomplished thus far in his rule over the Jews. As you read through this Chapter you find that the Kings since of Bride really builds in verses 20-22.

What has occured to this point is the King has been in power for some likely 18 or so years and Now a gap of 17 years possibly between Chapters 3 and 4, then the 7 year period of the Kings mental illness then a year to the end of his reign totally 43 years.

1.  boasting

2.  belittling

3.  rebellious behavior

4.  Bad manners

5.  bashfulness

6.  business

7.  Bad talk taking authority at God’s expense

Point 2: Pride claims glory

31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

Here we see that the King was so prideful and arrogant that It dominated who he was even though he had seen the mighty hand of GOD rescue the Hebrew Boys from their punishment he had set for them.

Pride is about to cost him everything, I mean everything. Pride is the same way today if we just take a minute to look at it.

Lance Armstrong

Won seven consecutive Tour de France titles.

For years, he denied using performance-enhancing drugs and attacked anyone who accused him.

His pride and refusal to admit wrongdoing led him to intimidate teammates, journalists, and whistleblowers.

When the truth came out in 2012, he was stripped of all seven titles, banned from cycling for life, and lost millions in endorsements.

Mark 8:36–37 “36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

2. Elizabeth Holmes (Business)

Elizabeth Holmes

Founded Theranos and became one of the world's youngest self-made billionaires.

Instead of admitting the technology wasn't working, she continued making false claims.

Her pride and deception led to criminal convictions and the collapse of the company.

Lesson: Pride often refuses to acknowledge failure.

Application: Is your pride so big that it will keep you from repentance until its too late and God calls you home in a prideful state?

Point 3: Pride invites discipline

33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Proverbs 11:2 – "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

3. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9)

The Pride

Convinced he was serving God by persecuting Christians.

Trusted in his religious credentials.

The Humbling Jesus confronted him on the Damascus Road.

Blinded for three days.

Completely dependent on others.

The Repentance Saul surrendered to Christ and became the Apostle Paul.

Lesson: Sometimes God has to stop us before He can redirect us.

Point 4: Humility bring restoration

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”

1. Pride caused David to believe he was above accountability.

The chapter begins with a subtle but significant observation:

"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle... David remained at Jerusalem." (2 Samuel 11:1)

David stayed behind while his army fought. As king, he neglected his responsibility, perhaps believing he no longer needed to do what other kings did.

2. Pride abused power.

When David saw Bathsheba, he didn't simply commit adultery—he used his royal authority to take another man's wife.

A humble king would have recognized God's law and respected another man's marriage. Pride says, "I can have what I want because I have the power."

3. Pride refused confession.

Instead of admitting his sin immediately, David:

Tried to manipulate Uriah into going home.

Arranged for Uriah's death.

Attempted to cover up the pregnancy.

One sin led to another because pride resists exposure.

4. Pride was confronted by God's Word.

Nathan's parable (2 Samuel 12) is brilliant because it bypassed David's self-justification.

David became angry at the rich man in the story, only to hear Nathan declare:

"You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7)

At that moment, David could have responded in pride or humility.

5. David repented.

Unlike Saul, David humbled himself.

His immediate response was:

"I have sinned against the LORD." (2 Samuel 12:13)

Psalm 51 gives us a window into David's heart after Nathan confronted him. He didn't blame Bathsheba, his circumstances, or anyone else. He confessed his sin and pleaded for God's mercy.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)