Exalted

I was reading in 2 Samuel the other day, about Absalom, and wondering why he felt he deserved the kingdom. I went back, and realised that his mother was the daughter of the king of Geshur. So he had royalty on both sides of his family. I am sure he thought he, of any of the sons, deserved to be put in a high position.

But we must be careful never to assume we deserve something. God is the perfect rewarder of men, and we ought to be thankful for what we have and where we are. The Bible warns us about exalting ourselves in any way. Things didn’t work out so well for Absalom in the end, and they rarely do for us in those situations either. 

Proverbs 25:6, 7 “Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: (7) For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.”

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

I would do well to remember the quote from Spurgeon:
“If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he thinks you to be.”