All That Isn’t Enough

As rulers go, King Uzziah was about as good as it gets. In 2^nd Chronicles 26, we read about his rule. Taking the throne at sixteen years of age, he ‘did right in the sight of the LORD’. He defeated some of Israel worst enemies and forced others to pay tribute. His fame spread across the region. He improved the infrastructure of the cities, was a friend to the farmer, and strengthened the military. He not only increased the manpower of his nation but brought in new technology and innovation as well. You name it, religion, power, prestige, technology, defense, agricultural; he excelled in them all during his reign.

Except at the end.

In 2 Chronicles 26:16 we read:

But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

He wanted to go and lead the worship. He was a king, a respected man, a dedicated follower, so why not? Because the priest said God had told them to do it. It wasn’t his place. Of course, this made Uzziah irate. Who were these priest to tell him what he could and could do!

Then the Lord made his feeling know. He stuck Uzziah with leprosy. Now this great leader was forced out of the palace, out of the house of the Lord and out of power.

Pride goes before the fall.

It doesn’t matter what we accomplished, how faithful we seem, the skins we have on the wall, when we think we can overrule God’s plan, we are in error. We see it today. She is a good a speaker as any man, why should she be allowed to use her talents as a preacher? He a great leader, he should be an elder even if he had more than one wife. He does more than anyone else, why shouldn’t he be a deacon even if he doesn’t have children?

Why? Because God doesn’t allow it. It might make folks mad but that’s a pride reaction, not a faith one. Maybe the best way to view it is in an earlier statement about Uzziah, in verse 5, “and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him”.

Pride says my way it best. Faith says God way is. If we want to really succeed, It has to be God’s way.

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