Tennessee folk hero Davy Crockett is credited with coining the phrase “too big for your britches.” In his autobiography, he recounts his experience serving under Major (and future President) Andrew Jackson. He wrote, “I myself was one of the first to fire a gun under Andrew Jackson. I helped to give him all his glory. But I liked him well once: but when a man gets too big for his breeches, I say Good bye.”
History is filled with people whose success fueled an exaggerated sense of independence. Julius Caesar rose to power and was declared “dictator for life” before being assassinated by his inner circle. After a few early victories, Napoleon Bonaparte was convinced he was invincible but ended in exile. While admiring his success, King Nebuchadnezzar was driven into seven years of madness.
The pattern is predictable. Success breeds overconfidence, and overconfidence blossoms into unrighteous independence. In 2 Chronicles’ record of Israel’s kings, David reigned for 40 years, as did his son, Solomon. Afterward, his son, Rehoboam, was made king, and here’s how that went.
When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. (2 Chr. 12:1)
God does not take lightly those who get too big for their britches. He sent a prophet to Rehoboam to declare the judgment that was being handed down for his excessive self-reliance.
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” (2 Chr. 12:5–8)
The contrast could not be clearer. Rehoboam became strong, then abandoned the Lord’s commands. At the prospect of an all-consuming judgment, the king and his people recognized the need to submit to the Almighty God. Having humbled themselves, God withheld the full weight of the sentence.
Have you seen the pattern in your own life? Have you experienced success that increased your self-confidence, but at the expense of relying on God? This is what Jesus was getting at when he told his disciples, “Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mt. 19:24). While it’s true that no one can come to the Father unless the Father draws him, Jesus makes a point about those who have wealth. There is an ungodly self-reliance that goes hand in hand with success.
Jesus was being ironic when He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk. 2:17). Again, no one is righteous without Christ! And again, He was making a point about those who did not believe they needed to be saved. He was talking about those in front of Him in positions of power. Jesus treated them as God did Rehoboam. He pronounced judgment on those who perceived themselves as strong and had abandoned the Lord’s commands. His judgment was that He was not there to save them!
The seriousness with which God views self-reliance is sobering. Make a habit of thanking God for the success He has granted. Do not begrudge the times you failed to get the promotion, experienced prolonged sickness or never gained the wealth you expected. Keeping you from getting too big for your britches may have been the best thing that ever happened to you.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (Prov. 11:2)