“Now on a certain day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and delivered an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” — (Acts 12:21–23 NKJV)
One thing I’ve learned is that power, wealth, and influence can intoxicate even the most humble person. Herod the king proved this: he forgot he was merely a man. His subjects hailed him as a god, and because he did not correct them—and reveled in their praise—an angel struck him down instantly.
Beloved, we must guard against seizing God’s glory for ourselves. No matter our position or prosperity, all honor belongs to Him. Pride provokes judgment, as seen in the parable of the rich fool:
“The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” — (Luke 12:16–20 NKJV)
That rich man gloried in his abundance rather than thanking God. Let us learn from his folly: celebrate God as the source of every blessing and refuse the seduction of pride.
Today’s Rhema
Do not let power or wealth intoxicate you; give all glory to God, the true Giver!
Confession for the Day
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for every gift and opportunity You’ve given me. I acknowledge that all I have comes from You, and I celebrate You as the Giver of every good thing. I refuse to exalt myself and instead honor You in all I do, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
