Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes:
“To whom would you compare your greatness?
You are like mighty Assyria, which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade…
 
Because Egypt became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds, I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves. …A foreign army—the terror of the nations—has cut it down and left it fallen on the ground. Its branches are scattered across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived in its shadow have gone away and left it lying there. -Ezekiel 31:1-3;10-12

Egypt was one of the greatest superpowers of the ancient world.
Like a great tree, it grew taller and taller.
It’s academic, economic and cultural achievements as well as its military might were impressive. But because of Egypt’s pride, and particularly the pride of the Pharaoh, this impressive nation would come crashing down. It would never again wield power and military might in the same way. Pharaoh’s pride was so legendary that he went so far as to say he had created the great Nile river himself (Ezekiel 29:3). The Nile river was the lifeblood of Egypt’s economy, a natural resource that shaped the success of that nation.

Like Pharaoh, we can take credit for the natural resources in life — the gifts and the talents  that we have been given by God.

When I live in my own strength and for my own glory, I am proclaiming myself to be like a mighty tree: Strong and sturdy, self-reliant and self-assured.

When I choose to live this way, I am deceived.
Every good and perfect gift in our lives – including our family, our health, our economic viability and success, our intellect, our skills, and our spiritual gifting and ability — comes from our Father in heaven (James 1:17). Even our faith itself is a gift from God (Eph 2:8).

Everything in my life (and yours) is a gift from God.
I am not a self-made man.
I am born in frailty and the life I now live, I  live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20)
The moment I fail to acknowledge that and give glory to God for every facet of my life, is the moment I begin to fall.

The gifts given by God (natural and supernatural) are for His purposes and His glory. They are not intended for my glory or yours, but rather, His.

It’s better to be a branch, than a tree.

Jesus said:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

HE is the vine. We are the branches that derive any life, strength or vitality from Him.
Apart from Him, we’re sunk.
We’re lost and we are incapable of any good.

Abiding in Christ is to be connected to Him through His word, through His church, through prayer and through obedience.

When we abide, we thrive.
When we exalt ourselves, we will be cut down.

Are you abiding, or are you striving?

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, abide in Him, and He will lift you up.