Theme

The danger of success creating pride

Questions

• How would you define pride? What characteristics do you see in a prideful person?
• Uzziah’s successes come from his relationship with God (v.4-5). Look at Proverbs 3:1-7, how do these verses help us understand the ways in which following God affects the way we live life?
• Zechariah instructed Uzziah in the “fear of God” (v.5).
  • Why is having the fear of God an important foundation for a leader (or anyone else)?
  • Why is the fear of God something to be learned, rather than something which comes naturally? How do you prioritise learning to honour God and his ways?
• The writer of 2 Chronicles tells us that once Uzziah became powerful (or prosperous) his pride led to his downfall (v.16). What do you think is the relationship between power and pride – not just in Uzziah’s life, but in the world in general?
• Is there a difference between pride and confidence?
• Look at these descriptions of pride from Proverbs – Proverbs 11:2; 13:10; 16:18-19; 21:24 – can you see some of these characteristics in Uzziah? Can you see some of these characteristics in others, or in yourself?
• Uzziah was confronted about his actions by priests in the temple (v.18-19), but his response was anger:
  • Do you think that the more successful person is, the less willing they are to listen to criticism from others?
  • How do we maintain a willingness to follow instructions from others (especially in spiritual matters)?
• Uzziah was a successful and powerful leader, but at the end of his life what people remembered was “he had leprosy” (v.23) [Note: the issue is not the leprosy, but that his pride brought consequences which separated him from God’s people]. How can pride make us blind to the consequences of our actions?

• In the New Testament Paul tells the Philippian church to pattern their lives after Jesus. Read Philippians 2:3-11. How does this passage help us to find the proper attitude for our actions and our successes?

• If you could ask Uzziah one question, what would it be? (what do you think his answer would be?)