Only 2% of the population are able to spot the mistake in less than 2 minutes. How did you do?
If you found the mistake in less than 2 minutes - well done.
How are you feeling?
I have no idea how many people can find the mistake in under 2 minutes - I made that up. But we all like the idea that we are better than other people. It makes us feel good about ourselves.
Lots of people struggle with pride. But lots of people struggle with false humility.
Daniel 4 is a warning against pride - Nebuchadnezzar is proud of his achievements - but oversteps the mark in verse 30.
Some of us though have low self esteem - we've grown up being told we're rubbish - and now we believe it. We can't do anything. Everyone is better than us. We're worthless.
When the Bible warns us against pride it is warning against an attitude that refuses to depend on God, is unwilling to be subject to God, and takes the credit for things that are down to God.
So what's the answer to pride and false humility?
God is behind history, everything comes from God - that is something that Nebuchadnezzar is struggling to grasp. Nothing is impossible for God.
But then who are we?
We are created in the image of God and we are loved by God. But we are also sinners - for whom Jesus died on the cross. We can become children of God. We are not worthless - we are worth everything.
The answer for pride is not putting ourselves down all the time. It is about pulling ourselves up to our full height - alongside God - and realising just how small our biggest efforts are. It's about recognising that in our strength we can do nothing but with God we can do anything.
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