Ezekiel 28:5
“By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:”
Most often tools were made to help someone do things for good. When you look at a mechanics toolbox, his tools are often used to make cars better. What would happen if one day the mechanic picked up the tool and the tool started talking back to the mechanic? What if the tool told the mechanic that it didn’t want to work on cars, but because it was such an important tool it would rather start a tool show to display its beauty or strength? This is certainly ridiculous, but this is what God’s people oftentimes do.
The verse above is showing the mindset of the Prince of Tyrus. Many think the Prince of Tyrus is Satan. Whether or not it is Satan, we can see that this Prince of Tyrus used the tools given to him for destruction. Many of these tools he did not acquire by himself, but they were tools given to him by God. Yet, the very tools God allowed him to have to be used for good became tools of destruction. There were five tools that were meant for good that he turned into tools of destruction.
First, his wisdom became a tool of destruction. The great wisdom he acquired was given to him by God. Yes, he had to study to get this wisdom, but God could have withheld this wisdom; yet, He did not. You always have to be careful about allowing your intelligence or wisdom to become a tool of personal destruction. Just because you know something that someone else does not know doesn’t make you better than God or anyone else. You should use your wisdom for the betterment of God’s work.
Second, his beauty became a tool of destruction. In verses 12-13, he became so wrapped up in his beauty that pride set into his heart. Friend, you have nothing to do with your personal beauty. If God blessed you with beauty, then use it to help others to see the beauty God has given to them.
Third, his location of where he was created became a tool of destruction. He was set in the Garden of Eden, and he allowed his ability to live in this garden to become a source of pride. If you were born into a great church, let me remind you that only God’s grace allowed that to happen. If you were born in a great country, it was of God’s grace. Just because you’ve had the opportunity to be brought up in a great location should not cause you to become prideful; instead, it should humble you that God was gracious enough to allow you to have that background.
Fourth, in verse 15 his past became a tool of destruction. He was filled with pride because of what he had done in the past. Your past is past. Just because you did right yesterday does not mean you are doing right today. Don’t let the rich history of your past become a tool of destruction today. Continue doing right so that you can have a bright future tomorrow.
Fifth, in verse 16 his possessions became a tool of destruction. He looked at what he had and that became a tool that destroyed him. If God has given you many possessions in life, don’t let that become a tool that Satan uses to destroy you. Don’t become so focused on your possessions that you take your eyes off God.
Always remember that everything you have should be a tool used to serve the LORD. Don’t let the tools God has given you for good become a source of personal destruction. He gave them to you to use in His service. Don’t misappropriate the tools God has given you, because when you do they will become tools of destruction.