Hezekiah’s story is a cautionary tale about keeping success in perspective

3 min read

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6

Have you noticed how one of the most difficult things to do in life is to keep success in perspective? There’s just something about going on a winning streak that tends to spoil people.

It is true, what you do after a good day, or a prosperous season, is one of the most important things about you.

Stay humble and you’ll likely enjoy more good. But let it go to your head and…

The Silly Cycle

Take Hezekiah, one of the kings of ancient Judah, for example. Hezekiah was a righteous influencer in his day. God used him to bring about needed change on a big scale.

But like all of us, Hezekiah had his blind spots. Eventhough his faith in God was real, Hezekiah was always vulnerable to pride (thinking it was all about him) and narcissism. It was like a cycle with him.

When he needed God’s help, Hezekiah was humble and focused on the Lord. In a crisis, he would cry out to God with sincere and passionate prayer (see Isaiah 37:14-17).

So far, so good.

But after God helped him, it seems that Hezekiah would lose perspective and let his pride run wild again. He would start showboating and thinking only of himself. He would lose his sense of how much he needed God’s grace and mercy.

Ever been there?

And before long, Hezekiah would be right back in a position of desperation. The bottom would fall out and Hezekiah would be plunged into another ego-checking crisis.

A Better Option

For all of us, the end-result of thinking too much of ourselves is very predictable. When we start boasting of what we have done – either outloud or quietly to ourselves – and lose sight of what God has done, things will eventually go south, way south. As the Proverb says,

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

-Proverbs 16:18

But It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to do another loop on the silly cycle. There’s a better option.

Like Hezekiah, when something bad happens, we can humbly spread it out before God and seek his help. This may sound too simple, but it’s actually a brilliant move.

And then, after God brings us through that crisis and the sun is shining again, we can choose to be humble and grateful. Unlike Hezekiah, we can keep our egos in check and refrain from boasting and self-promotion.

If someone says, “Wow, you’re amazing!” we can say, “Praise God, he did it!” After all, he is ultimately the Source of all that is good and perfect.

Pride will always bring a premature end to the good days. But keeping success in perspective and staying humble will make them last longer.

Here’s to more good days!

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.