BEING FURIOUS WHEN CORRECTED
"THEN UZZIAH BECAME FURIOUS; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. AND WHILE HE WAS ANGRY WITH THE PRIESTS, LEPROSY BROKE OUT ON HIS FOREHEAD, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar."
2 Chronicles 26:19 (NKJV)
No matter your status or position, you should know that God cannot be taken for granted. What God has not ordained you to do, do not venture into it! Another important thing is that, when you are being reproved because of the wrong you did, do not be angry with whoever is correcting you; accept the correction with humility: "HE WHO IS OFTEN REBUKED, AND HARDENS HIS NECK, WILL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY" (Proverbs 9:1 NKJV).
King Uzziah who supposed not to burn incense, because the assignment is solely the responsibility of the priests, but he did and was being reproved by the priests (2 Chronicles 26:19).
The king became angry with the priests, and leprosy broke out on his forehead as a result (2 Chronicles 26:19).
If you are being reproved for the wrong you did and you are angry, God Himself may have to do the discipline and correction by Himself, and it may be severer.
Whoever is being reproved but angry, he is calling for sudden destruction (Proverbs 29:1). Inasmuch that what you are being corrected or reproved on is about the wrong thing you did, you should accept the correction with humility in order to avoid God's wrath and judgement.
When you are quarrelling with the person reproving you, It is a sign of pride—you are indirectly saying that you are above the person who can be corrected.
You have had wrong estimation of yourself (Romans 12:3). You think you should not be talked to, or corrected at all. It is only God Who is infallible, every human being is fallible!
Whoever you are, you are proned to error. In other words, you can make a mistake, or miss it, thus, you should not think you cannot be corrected.
God will consider whoever did wrong and acknowledged his or her wrongdoing—someone who is remorseful and trembled, having a contrite heart at His Word: "THE SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE A BROKEN SPIRIT, A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART—THESE, O GOD, YOU WILL NOT DESPISE" (Psalm 51:17 NKJV).
The heart with which you received the correction or reprove or reprimand would determine God's severity—the meting out of the discipline or punishment.
God would consider someone with a contrite or broken or repentant heart, someone who readily admits and acknowledges his or her wrongs: “BUT ON THIS ONE WILL I LOOK: ON HIM WHO IS POOR [humble or lowly] AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND WHO TREMBLES AT MY WORD" (Isaiah 67:2 NKJV).
READ: Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 57:15
King Uzziah refused to back down, he wanted to prove that he is above error or mistake and he cannot be corrected because he was the overall ruler or king. Howbeit, God did not see it that way; God is the only Sovereign and Supreme, no one else.
King Uzziah should have known that he was put on the throne by God.
Anyway, he did allow his success to enter his head, he had a wrong notion of the self. He thought of himself more highly than he ought to (Romans 12:3).
The lesson in the passage for whoever is at the top or leadership position or high in the society or world is, they should not see themselves as untouchable—do not see yourself as someone cannot be reproved or corrected.
The difference between David and Uzziah was, when David was confronted by Prophet Nathan for what he did wrong; he humbled himself, accepted the mistake, and was remorseful (2 Samuel 12:13).
READ: 2 Samuel 12:1-13
However, when Uzziah was confronted by the priests, he was angry with the priests who told him that what he did is wrong (2 Chronicles 26:19).
Note:
• Learn how to humble yourself and allow yourself to be corrected when there is need for it.
• Do not think of yourself more than you ought to: "FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, TO EVERYONE WHO IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK, BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH" (Romans 12:3 NKJV).
Some have left the church they attend because they are reproved or corrected by their pastors. Just because they are privileged to be one of the people who give substantially to the work being done in the church or ministry; they thought they should not be talked to or corrected by their pastors. If you are too big to be corrected or disciplined, you are heading towards destruction (Proverbs 9:1).
In fact, If you are currently attending a church where you are not being corrected, you are like all in all in the place; I would suggest to you to look for a pastor who you can submit to and reverence.
If you think you are better than your pastor or you are too big to be corrected or reproved by him, It means there is pride in your life. It would be advisable that you should ask God to lead you to the pastor who you would be able to submit to and be humble under his leadership.
Peace.