2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense…. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, it appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed, neither shall it be for thine honor.
After God gave Uzziah great prosperity and power, he became proud and corrupt, and acted presumptuously. “Pride goeth before destruction.” He took it on himself to go into the Holy Place to burn incense. This was a trespass. His heart was lifted up. Things were going so well that he thought he was something. As a humbling punishment, God struck him with leprosy in his forehead, and he lived separately as a leper until he died.
If God has given you wealth, influence, popularity, or power be humbly thankful, but be careful. God hates pride; it destroys. Practice habits of gratitude that give God the credit for what you have. Humble thankfulness for everything prevents a foolish pride that leads to destruction. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”