READ: Daniel 4:24-37
“For who mak eth thee to dif fer from another? …” – 1 Corinthians 4:7
You must watch yourself in case you think you have achieved what you have achieved by your own strength and ability. It is by the grace of God that you have what you have! Nebuchadnezzar was puffed up and proud. He ascribed the greatness of the city, Babylon, to his wisdom and abilities. He should have acknowledged God and declared that he had built Babylon by the grace of God.
A man was trapped in a building after an earthquake. After three days and nights he was rescued and taken to the hospital. He was interviewed by the news media. “How did you survive under the rubble for three days and nights?” The man answered, “I am a man of strong will power. I am a determined person. I always do what I have decided to do and I stick to my vision and I maintain my purpose at all times.”
The reporter also interviewed his wife. He was stunned to have almost the same response from the wife. The reporter then interviewed the doctors who were looking after the man. The doctors concurred, “Our patient is resilient. He is a man of strong willpower, very determined and very focused.”
A week later, this man with the strong will power had a heart attack and died suddenly. It seems his will power was unable to sustain him. Instead of giving glory to God, these people were ascribing the miracle of life to resilience, strong will power and determination. God does not like it when you boast about things that He has given you as though you did not receive them.