How can we identify and avoid the pride seen in Isaiah 22:15? The scene in Isaiah 22:15 “Thus says the Lord GOD of Hosts: ‘Go, say to this steward, to Shebna who is in charge of the palace…’ ”. Shebna managed the king’s household—a post of enormous trust. Yet, as the chapter unfolds (vv. 16–19), God exposes his self-exalting projects and vows to cast him down. What pride looked like for Shebna • Position became personal glory: stewarding the palace morphed into building his own legacy (v. 16). • Security rested in monuments, not in God: he carved an extravagant tomb on a cliff to immortalize himself. • Accountability vanished: he never imagined God would audit his motives (vv. 17–18). • The result—public disgrace: “He will roll you tightly like a ball and fling you into a wide land” (v. 18). Spotlights that reveal similar pride in us • Self-promotion disguised as “using my gifts.” • Money or accomplishments quietly leveraged to enshrine our name (Luke 12:16-21). • A subtle sense that rules, feedback, or authority structures apply to others more than to me (Proverbs 16:18). • Distaste for hidden service or tasks that receive no applause (Matthew 6:1-4). • Resentment when God redirects plans we thought showcased us (James 4:13-16). Practical steps to avoid Shebna’s trap 1. Keep stewardship front-and-center – Remember: every role, resource, and relationship is a trust from God (1 Corinthians 4:2). 2. Invite regular heart audits – Ask trusted believers to speak into areas where ambition outpaces obedience (Proverbs 27:6). 3. Celebrate unseen faithfulness – Choose assignments that only God notices; let obscurity train the soul (Colossians 3:23-24). 4. Hold plans with open hands – Submit agendas daily, echoing “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). 5. Boast only in the Lord – Redirect praise immediately: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). 6. Meditate on Christ’s descent before His exaltation – “He humbled Himself… therefore God exalted Him” (Philippians 2:5-11). Humility precedes honor. Promises that motivate humility • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). • “Humble yourselves… and He will exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6). • “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Living the contrast Shebna built a tomb to make his name last; God built an unshakeable kingdom through a Servant who emptied Himself. By identifying the seeds of self-exaltation and planting habits of humble dependence, we trade Shebna’s cliff-side monument for a far better inheritance—“a crown of righteousness” kept for all who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). |
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