By your wisdom and your understanding you have gotten wealth for yourself,
and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth,
and your heart has become proud in your wealth --
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
"Because you consider yourself as wise as a god,
behold, I will bring strangers upon you, the most terrible of the nations;
behold, I will bring strangers upon you, the most terrible of the nations;
and they shall draw their swords against
the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.
the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.
They shall thrust you down into the Pit,
and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.
and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.
Will you still say, `I am a god,' in the presence of those who slay you,
though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who wound you?
You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners;
for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD."
A heart that is proud out of his own achievements in life can lead to self-righteousness and self-centeredness. A lot of successful entrepreneurs nowadays possess such character.
I became a President and Chief Executive Officer of a Corporation based in Ayala, Makati at a very young age. I was single then and can consider myself as one of the "most sought bachelors". I wore the finest suits at work and got used to people looking up on me. I was so proud of myself not knowing that I am already acting as if I am a god most especially to my subordinates.
At one dinner date with a former high school batch mate, I remember uttering these words, "the life and faith of those who depend on me are in the palm of my hands."
Instead of being admired, she told me, "you are still a human like anyone of us and what you are today does not make you a god."
At this instance, I remembered the life of Aristotle Onassis, a prominent shipping magnate who before the end of his life realized that he is not a god but a human being just like any other.
One thing is a fact, we came naked in this world and we will also leave the world naked. We can not bring our material treasures to the after life. This is why the Lord tells us that we should focus more on treasures that lasts.
God has given us the gift of wisdom and understanding on how we should view our treasures. As the Lord said in Luke 12:34,
"For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also."
Reading: Ezekiel 28: 4 - 10
Reflection: Author