Gifts and Talents

      Lucifer was the most handsome of all of the angels. He thought that he could rise up and exalt his throne above God’s throne. He was the first sinner. His sin was pride.

      King Nebuchadnezzar was a great King. His kingdom covered all of the known earth at that time. One day he spoke these words, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" King Nebuchadnezzar had lifted himself up, in his own pride. God took away his throne for seven years.

      Pride is not just the sin of the rich or the well-to-do. Even the poorest man can have pride. We are proud of our accomplishments, in the house, we live in, how much money we make, how much we give away, the car we drive, and many other things. We say “look at what I have done.”

      We forget that God is the One who gives us everything that we have. He gives us our talents, and the ability to do everything that we do. He is the One who made us. He numbers the days of our lives. Without God, we can do nothing. There are times we like to brag about the things that we have or the things that we do. That is pride. David said, “Oh, that man would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.” His praise should be on our lips every day. We give Him thanks for the food we eat, for the house we live in, for the breath we have, for without God we would not have any of those things. Oh, give thanks to Him for everything.

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      New King James Version
Psalms 107:8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

      New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.

      New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 5:19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.

      New King James Version
Isaiah 14:12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart: `I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

      New King James Version
Daniel 4:30 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?"
31 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!
32 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."