Daily Devotional
Strength and a Lowly Heart
Uzziah prospered, built, fought, planted, and grew strong; yet when he was strong, his heart was lifted up. The same hand that had subdued enemies reached for the censer, as though success in one calling entitled him to seize another. So his glory became his wound. Cyprian says, “Thus also Uzziah the king — when he bare the censer and violently claimed to himself to sacrifice against God's law, and when Azariah the priest withstood him, would not be obedient and yield — was confounded by the divine indignation.” Strength without obedience rots into pride.
Proverbs lays the axe to that root. Do not boast of tomorrow. Do not praise yourself. Do not let zeal become noise, nor friendship become display. As Clement warns, “Whosoever shall bless his friend early in the morning with a loud voice, shall be regarded not to differ from cursing.” Even good words become evil when swollen with vanity, untimely speech, or the desire to be seen.
The wise man receives rebuke, restrains his mouth, tends what has been entrusted to him, and fears God more than his own importance. Better the priest who withstands a king than the king who will not yield. Better open correction than hidden pride. Better ordinary faithfulness in one’s proper place than grand acts done against the commandment.
Therefore let each man keep to the measure given him, and do it with humility. Let the prosperous be watchful. Let the talkative be restrained. Let the brother who is corrected bow his neck rather than harden it. For a good name is guarded not by self-exaltation, but by obedience, meekness, and steadfast work before God.
“Thus also Uzziah the king — when he bare the censer and violently claimed to himself to sacrifice against God's law, and when Azariah the priest withstood him, would not be obedient and yield — was confounded by the divine indignation, and was polluted upon his forehead by the spot of leprosy: he was marked by an offended Lord in that part of his body…”
— Cyprian, Treatises
“Whosoever shall bless his friend early in the morning with a loud voice, shall be regarded not to differ from cursing. Proverbs 27:14”
— Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus)
For Reflection & Discussion
Where have you taken honor to yourself that was not given to you, and what concrete act of confession and submission must you make today?
What word of self-praise, loud flattery, or untimely speech must you withhold today, and whom should you instead honor quietly by truthful deeds?
What charge has God actually entrusted to you—household, labor, prayer, almsgiving, or care for another—that you need to tend faithfully this week without reaching for a higher place?
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