BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO
The higher you go in life, the more humble you should become. Don’t let your position or power go to your head and make you proud. Beware of an inflated ego or exaggerated sense of self-importance. There’s nothing you have that you didn’t receive from God (1 Corinthians 4:7). Christians, especially those in leadership in the church and outside, should beware of pride. 1 Timothy 3:6 says, “A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall” (NLT).
John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, an English historian popularly called Lord Acton, said in his letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Don’t become drunk with power, which leads to pride and power abuse.
Whether you are a spiritual leader, CEO, department head, community, political, team leader, or whatever you are, use your power with humility; don’t let the honour people give you go to your head. Receive it with humility, or else it will destroy you.
Herod’s pride
Herod died a mysterious death for acknowledging the flattery that his voice was the voice of God and not that of man. An angel of the Lord struck him, worms ate him, and he died (Acts 12:20-23). If someone doesn’t receive honour with humility, he may die prematurely, physically or spiritually, or both.
He could lose whatever people have seen in him that makes them honour him. He could abuse his office or position and lose his power. He could begin to act arbitrarily and cause his downfall. He could fall from grace to grass. He could become a once-celebrated person who has become disgraced, abandoned, and irrelevant.
Nebuchadnezzar’s pride
Nebuchadnezzar proudly said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30 NKJV). He did not acknowledge that God gave him his power and the kingdom. The Bible says that while Nebuchadnezzar was still speaking, a voice fell from heaven, announcing that the kingdom had been taken away from him. Twelve months earlier, he had been warned.
Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his palace to the forest where he lived with the beasts of the field and ate grass like oxen (Daniel 4:32). After seven seasons had passed over him, he was restored to the throne. Then, he said, “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” (Daniel 4:37 NKJV).
Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom” (NKJV). Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Humble yourself; don’t let pride destroy you. “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23 NKJV).
If you want God to lift you, be humble. Humility is one of the qualities He considers for lifting. All other qualities, including diligence and discipline, are essential, but without humility even if someone gains promotion, he will not last. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (NKJV). The Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and appoints over it whomever He chooses (Daniel 5:21).
For God to promote you, you need humility, and for Him to continue to elevate you, you must continue to humble yourself. Don’t become proud because you’ve been elevated. As Jesus said, whoever shall humble himself as a little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).
Paul’s and Barnabas’ humility
After Paul had healed a man crippled from his mother’s womb in Lystra, the people declared, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (Acts 14:11 NKJV). The New Living Translation says, “These men are gods in human form!” The people were amazed, believing that only the gods could have done that. Therefore, they named Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands to the gates to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
They didn’t allow the misguided honour of the people to intoxicate them. They tore their clothing in dismay and ran out to stop them telling them they were men like them preaching to them the word of God. Paul and Barnabas didn’t say they were gods. No matter how much anointing, grace, etc. you have, don’t call yourself a god to be worshipped.
Peter’s humility
In Acts 10, when Peter came to the house of Cornelius, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. “But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself am also a man’” (Acts 10:26 NKJV). Cornelius got up and they talked and went inside where the others were assembled. Peter wasn’t proud despite being the leader of all the apostles and Cornelius a gentile.
If you are a Christian, especially a church leader, and you are full of pride, where did you learn it? Is it from Christ? That is not possible. Why do you want your followers to worship you? This never happened in the early church. There was no such pride. If you’re guilty of this, repent. There is nothing you have that you didn’t receive from God.
Christ’s humility
John 13:2-5 shows Christ’s humility when He washed His disciples’ feet and wiped them with the towel. Jesus Christ is the perfect example for everyone to emulate. Jesus, in humility, served the disciples although they called Him Master.
In Jewish culture, foot washing was the first way of showing hospitality to guests before they came into a tent or house because of the dusty roads in Palestine. Guests could also be given water to wash their feet (Judges 19:21; Luke 7:44).
In some wealthy homes, washing of feet was considered the lowest service and was performed by the least in the household – the slaves (1 Samuel 25:41). But Jesus, the Master, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, humbled himself and washed the feet of His disciples.
After the whole thing, Jesus told His disciples, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:12-17 NKJV).
Don’t abuse your power
Don’t be arrogant and drunk with power. Don’t let pride take you over. Emulate Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (NKJV). The question should be which mind? The answer is in verses 6-8: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (NIV).
Don’t abuse your power. David abused his power by committing adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, impregnating her, and killing Uriah. However, his sin was not hidden from God. Confronted by the prophet Nathan, he confessed his sin and God forgave him. Nevertheless, he suffered the consequences of this sin (2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:1-24).
Don’t abuse your power. In 2 Chronicles 16:10, King Asa of Judah abused his power by throwing Hanani the seer in prison for delivering to him a rebuke from the LORD. He also brutally oppressed some of the people. But he eventually died from a serious foot disease.
King Ahab of Israel also abused his power. He ordered a true prophet of God, Micaiah, to be imprisoned and fed with the bread and water of affliction, until he returned in peace from the war against Ramoth Gilead (2 Chronicles 18:25-26). The Prophet Micaiah had warned him not to go contrary to the prophecy of the 400 prophets of Ahab. But Ahab never returned from the battle as Micaiah had said. He died in that battle.
The Bible records other abuses of power by kings in the Old and New Testaments, including that of Herod who ordered the killing of all the male children in Bethlehem and its borders thereof, from two years old and under, believing that, in the process, he would be able to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16). That was wickedness. But he couldn’t kill Jesus; He had been carried to Egypt as commanded by an angel of the Lord who had revealed Herod’s plot to kill Jesus. Herod also died later. Jesus outlived him (verses 19-20).
Don’t abuse your power. Be a servant, not a tyrant. Jesus emphasized this to His disciples. “You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people’” (Matthew 20:25-28 GW).
What to do
1. Acknowledge that all power belongs to God. He is the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1; Psalm 89:8; Revelation 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 19:15; 21:22). His power is unlimited.
2. Know that God gave you your power and you are accountable to Him. The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowest of people (Daniel 4:17). Everyone will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). Therefore, use your power in the fear of God.
3. Use your power to the glory of God and for the good of humanity, not to oppress or exploit, or for show or selfish gain. Do everything to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
4. Clothe yourself with humility. Dress yourself in humility as you relate to others. “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV). Believers must submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
5. Associate with the humble. Romans 12:16b says, “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble” (NKJV). The New International Version renders it thus: “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.”
6. Be a servant-leader. This will help you to remain humble and will discourage power abuse. Leadership is service as Jesus says in Matthew 20:25-28. Jesus said He didn’t come so that others could serve Him but He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many people. Emulate Him.
Conclusion: Don’t be power drunk. Don’t become proud. No matter how exalted your position is and the honour people give you, remain humble. Remember “No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules now without that power from God” (Romans 13:1b NCV). You are accountable to God and the human authorities above you (1 Peter 2:13-14).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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