I feel like there is a reason the Lord had me read about that. If we pay close attention as believers, we will notice that the Lord at times, warns us about things before they happen. It could be that He's about to bless us or answer a prayer we've been praying for a while and He wants us in the right mindset to receive it.
Not long after reading about those kings, I heard a sermon at church about the same thing. It even mentioned one of the kings I read about, King Uzziah.
2 Chronicles 26:5 tells us that as long as king Uzziah sought the Lord, God made him prosper. Verse 15 mentions that he was marvelously helped until he became strong. He became confident in himself.
It goes on to say in verse 16 that his heart was lifted up to his destruction. We all are familiar with this proverb that tells us exactly what comes before a fall Proverbs 16:18
He got so puffed up that he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Something that only the priests were allowed to do. He was confronted and warned by the priests to get out because he had trespassed against the Lord. He got mad and was immediately struck by the Lord with leprosy. He lived isolated as a leper until the day he died.
Having self confidence is the belief in ones own abilities and worth. Our society views the absence of this as weakness. As Christians we cannot be "self confident" and reliant on God at the same time. That's telling God we do not need Him. We know that when we are weak then we are strong because His strength is perfect in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
It is so easy for pride to creep in. When the Lord decides to use us in whatever way He chooses, He equips us with what we need to do His will. Without Him we would not have the gifts we do. It is so important to stay connected to the Lord outside of going to church. Seeking Him daily by praying and reading His word will keep our minds and hearts in tune with His will for our lives. It helps us to be mindful of whose we are and where He has brought us from. It is by His mercies alone that we exist.
It does not matter if we were born with the gifts we have. Everything we have comes from the Lord
King Uzziah forgot the source of his strength and this can easily happen to any of us with through our spiritual gifts. It's the perfect atmosphere for the enemy to creep in.
We need to understand that all our help comes from the Lord! Jesus Himself tells us that without Him we can do nothing.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
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