The neglect of humility can be costly. In the Book of Daniel Chapter 5, verses 22 to 24, we see an important lesson on the costly neglect of humility. If pride is a great sin, then humility is a great virtue and the neglect of this great virtue brings a great punishment. The great sin of Belshazzar was summarised in these words: “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart.” He had enough knowledge of the existence of the true God, the power and might of the living God, the greatness and holiness of the most high God. He had enough knowledge of the God of heaven to compel him to be humble before Him, but he did not humble himself. “And thou hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.” He knew the severity of judgment which came on Nebuchadnezzar for his refusal to humble himself before God. He was not ignorant of his father’s strange, severe, humiliating, divine chastisement. For seven years it was the burden of Babylon and it aroused fear and terror in the heart of everyone. How could he have forgotten so soon? His father, Nebuchadnezzar, had also kept the awe-inspiring experience on record so that everyone would learn that “those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Belshazzar sinned against knowledge. He did not walk in the light of the knowledge of truth which he knew. Those who know God’s judgments upon others for their sins, and yet walk in the same sinful way, are doubly guilty, and will be punished with proportional severity. Belshazzar committed his sin of sacrilege with “a thousand of his lords”, “his princes, his wives, and his concubines.” It is a sobering responsibility to be in a position of authority. A sinning king or ruler influences his subjects and followers to sin. A king’s sin is a controlling or compelling sin. A monarch’s sin is a motivating sin. A parent’s sin is a pressurizing sin. A pastor’s sin is a persuasive sin. A captain’s sin is a contagious sin. A leader’s sin is a leading and misleading sin. An authority’s sin is an authoritative, authorizing sin. It is both delightful and dangerous to be in positions of authority and leadership. Leaders can be “the savour of death unto death and the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16) By corrupt, sinful, contagious, influential life, Belshazzar “taught rebellion against the LORD”, therefore he was punished and “cast from off the face of the earth” (Jeremiah 28:16; 29:32). As pastors, parents or leaders, we must take heed to our ways lest “we receive the greater condemnation” (Psalm 39:1; James 3:1)....Have a blessed day friends.
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 01:24:51 +0000
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