The ‘I’ Syndrome

The Lord’s Word says in Psalms 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

Everyday people go about their business without a thought of the Lord.  There are many others that have accomplished many great goals and have never given the Lord any credit.  Many have been gifted with great talent, so they get prideful and arrogant and then they get the ‘I’ syndrome saying, “I did this,” and “I did that,” or “look what I have done,” which usually results in a prideful attitude.  When this problem gets out of control, whether it is a believer or an unbeliever, the Lord knows how to humble that person.

There is a true story about a king that lived many years ago that had this ‘I’ problem.  This man was the greatest Babylonian king, whose name was Nebuchadnezzar.  He built many cities and God used him to accomplish His purposes at the time.  This king not only worshiped many gods, but he considered himself to be a god and had a statue built that his subjects were to bow down and worship.  He had uncontrolled pride and had to be humbled.  The king had a dream that frightened him and Daniel interpreted it for him.  

Read what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-33, “All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.”

Now read what happened to him when his time of being humbled was over and he finally came to his senses, in verses 34-37, “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

He does according to His will in the army of heaven

And among the inhabitants of the earth.

No one can restrain His hand

Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 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.”

All of this could have been avoided if he would have listened to Daniel and repented, but he didn’t.  So the Lord, after 12 months of waiting for a repentant heart and the king refusing, brought all this upon him so that he would understand what was written in Daniel 4 verse 17, “In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.”

This isn’t just a story, it really happened and all because of a man’s pride and arrogance, what a shame it takes so much to get some people’s attention.  God still has to humble people today and some may have to lose everything before they will acknowledge that God is sovereign over the affairs of men and that He loves them and only corrects and humbles when people need it.

My question to you is; have you humbled yourself before the Lord and asked Him to be your Lord and Savior or do you think you can be the lord of your own life, going your way and doing your own thing?  Don’t be like King Nebuchadnezzar who had the ‘I’ problem and don’t yield to the evil one who would not submit to God, being found with pride and losing his position with God and ended up being thrown out of heaven.  God loved him and He loves you, so resist the devil and submit to the Lord and repent and let Him have His way in your life.  Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and to live His life through you.  One of the things that God hates is pride so don’t be caught dead with it.  Something to think about, have a super day and may the good Lord bless you!!