Are You a Show-off?
Today’s Verse:
Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. ~Isaiah 39:4
When you were a child growing up, did anyone ever accuse you of being a “show-off?” As the term implies, a show-off is someone who purposely tries to impress other people with what they have or who they are. They are trying to send the message that they have “one up” on other people. As we will see this morning, being a show-off can be dangerous to us Christians.
We see the presentation.
“And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.” Hezekiah had been miraculously healed by the Lord from a fatal illness. The rising king of Babylon heard about what happened to Hezekiah. As a friendly gesture, the king of Babylon sent ambassadors to him with presents and letters. We are not told what was said in these letters, but we can infer from the context that Hezekiah felt confident, unassuming, and unafraid of any danger. Hezekiah gave these ambassadors a grand tour of his house and the house of God. He showed them everything, including his wealth, weapons, and his weaknesses! There was nothing in his house and among his treasures that he did not show them.
We see the pride.
“And Hezekiah was glad of them.” Hezekiah was being a show-off. Hezekiah made this ostentatious show of everything he had been blessed with. He did this to impress the Babylonians with his blessings. Pride is when we want others to think we are great and better than them. Hezekiah was at the place where he could have testified of God’s grace in his life, but his pride and ego got in the way. Pride can be blinding. Pride can lead us to show and tell others all that is in our heart. Pride is being boisterous. Pride is exhibited in our words and the things we show off. Pride is taking credit for the blessings of God and acting as if it was all our doing.
We see the protest.
“Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.” Isaiah rebuked Hezekiah for his foolish pride. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” God let Hezekiah know in no uncertain terms that He disapproved of his pride. The protest was frightening. He was told all that was entrusted to him would be carried away to Babylon. The protest would be future. This would judgment would have at a future time. Hezekiah set up future kings of Judah up for failure.
We see the peril.
The peril would be the embarrassing loss of everything. God said, “Nothing shall be left.” In addition, future descendants would be carried away and would be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Pride not only is hurtful to us, but also to those around us. “When pride cometh, then cometh shame,” (Proverbs 11:2a). “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall,” (Proverbs 16:18).
Are you a show-off? Does your ego and pride get in the way? Are you trying to impress other people with the blessings God has been gracious to you with? Die to self, and humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
Have a humble God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ephesians 4-6