The Glory Trap

“Not even God could sink this ship,” Cal Hockley boasted, his voice laced with smug certainty and human pride as he stood aboard the majestic vessel. With a sweeping gesture and louder confidence, he added, “This ship isn’t supposed to sink until we get to New York. Man has built it better than that.” He beamed with overconfidence, fully assured in the brilliance of human ingenuity.

You know how the story ends. The ship did sink—and he, along with many others, lost their lives in the icy depths of the North Atlantic Ocean. This is the first example of pride ruining a man.

🔔 Example 2: Herod Agrippa 1, King of Judea
His name was Marcus Julius Agrippa. His grandfather was none other than Herod the Great, the same ruler who ordered the massacre of infants in Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus (see Matthew 2:16).

Marcus, better known as Herod Agrippa 1, ruled Judea in the first century. He was proud, brutal, and politically driven—a man who craved the approval of people. He actively persecuted the early church, notably executing James, the brother of John, and imprisoning Peter in an effort to curry favor with the Jewish authorities (Acts 12:1–4). God miraculously delivered Peter from that prison—but that’s not the part of the story I want to dwell on today.

✝️ Context:
Herod Agrippa 1 was a king with considerable influence, feared by his subjects and admired by the Roman elite. When the people of Tyre and Sidon realized that their food supply was threatened, they sought peace—not through repentance or truth, but through political flattery. They appealed to Herod’s pride, even calling him a god. Let’s read what the scripture says about him.

“So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ^[22] And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” – Acts 12:21-22 NKJV.

He absorbed the praises of the people. He reveled in the glory of being called a god – like a supreme being that could keep them alive or dead. And something happened to him as he reveled in this “glory.”

“Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died,” (Acts 12:23 NKJV).

He was struck down by an angel because He did not give glory to God. Hmmm! At least there was a reason to strike him down. Maybe an accumulation of his proud prowess, persecuting and killing believers, and above all being exceedingly proud. He never repented like Nebuchadnezzar in the next example.

🔔 Example 3: The Pride of King Nebuchadnezzar
The third powerful example of pride in Scripture is none other than King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon.

📣 In Daniel 4:30 (NIV), he proudly declared:

“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

At first glance, one might ask: What’s wrong with acknowledging one’s accomplishments?
But the issue wasn’t what he said—it was the pride in his heart. He gave no glory to God, attributing everything to himself.

⚡ What happened next was swift and divine.
In verses 31–32, we read:

“³¹Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. ³²You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’”

🐂 He was struck with madness, driven from human society, and reduced to grazing like an ox in the field—until he humbled himself and recognized the sovereignty of God.

🕊️ But when he finally acknowledged the Most High God, his sanity and kingdom were miraculously restored.

📖 Continue reading in Daniel 4:34–37 for his powerful testimony of restoration and praise to the God of heaven.

“³⁴And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
³⁵All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
³⁶At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. ³⁷Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven…”

Praise be to the Most High God—our ever-forgiving Father! He is rich in mercy, and His compassion stretches from everlasting to everlasting. He does not delay in offering forgiveness; the moment we sincerely call on Him, He responds—because He knows our weaknesses and understands our humanity. What a good God He is—merciful, loving, and full of grace. No matter how far you’ve strayed—whether to the right or to the left—just call on Him. He will forgive, and He will forget.

⚠️ Let’s Explore How Scripture Highlights Their Pride and Judgment:

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Like many that walk in pride, Agrippa’s downfall came not through military defeat or rebellion, but from pride and self-glorification.

Second scripture is James 4:6 NKJV: “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.“”

Agrippa’s judgement illustrates that God demands humility from those in power and all of us.

🙇🏽‍♂️ Reflection
The Most High God frowns at pride. Through pride, angels like Satan and his cohorts, men and women have been brought down. It is one behavior that causes Almighty God to resist a man (I speak generically to mean both men and women, boys and girls).

Power can be intoxicating. Praise can become a poison when it causes us to forget the One who gave us breath in the first place. Herod basked in the applause of men, forgetting that every king is still subject to the King of Kings.

How often do we, even in subtle ways, seek our own glory instead of God’s? It might not be a throne or a public speech. It could be a moment when we take credit for a promotion, a successful project, or even a ministry breakthrough—forgetting to give thanks to the One who made it possible.

Herod’s end reminds us: God does not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8). The same God who lifts us up can humble us in an instant if we choose pride over praise.

Pride is not fueled by high social status- what you have or what you don’t have. In other words, it is not peculiar to the rich or powerful ones. One can be poor and still be as proud as Agrippa. Or be so rich and influential, yet so proud.

Pride has got to do with the heart of a man. It can be a product of upbringing, education, circle of friends, family background etc that subconsciously or consciously ingrain into man’s soul and spirit that one is better than others and can lord it over others, even when it is not true and against communal living that promotes love, kindness, goodness, forbearance or tolerance and other virtues.

Don’t yield to pride! It is one area that the Almighty God, Himself, resists a man. It’s one defect in the heart that makes the Most High to push you back from Him, no matter how prosperous you think you are! He will get you! Pride will cause you to stink before people. Don’t touch it! Many kings have destroyed their destinies. Many have truncated their lives at prime.

May the Lord cleanse our hearts from this evil position.

🙏🏽 Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve sought recognition for what You’ve done through me. Guard my heart from pride. Help me to live in humility, giving You the glory in every success, every compliment, and every opportunity. May I decrease, that You may increase. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

📖 Key Verses for Meditation

1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
Isaiah 42:8: “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.”
Proverbs 16:18:“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”