Monuments to Self

“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” – Daniel 3:1

Having created a monument to himself, Nebuchadnezzar demanded that leaders throughout the country gather for a special service. Once they were assembled, they heard an announcement. At the sound of the music, everyone was to bow down and worship the statue. There were no exceptions. Anyone who did not immediately bow down was to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

There could be no clearer demonstration. The message was that Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t just to be admired but also worshiped. There could be no rivals and no questions.

On the surface, this might seem like a usual display of arrogance. Many throughout history have been driven by similar desires, including people in politics, business, entertainment, and the military.

Napoleon once said, “Power is my mistress.” He observed that once people have power, they have a hard time relinquishing it. They can even develop a kind of god complex, feeling that they are invincible and can do whatever they want.

Nebuchadnezzar had a significant god complex.

Many people seek to be revered. The Bible tells us that, in God’s Kingdom, greatness is reserved for those who serve (Luke 22:26). As Jesus said, the greatest are those who humble themselves like a child (Matthew 18:1-4).

Today humble yourself before God. Seek to serve Him. Be sure to seek first His Kingdom. Do not allow your life to be dominated by pride.

Reflection Question: Write a prayer repenting of any pride in your life.