SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1262
“The Danger of Success”
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. – Deuteronomy 8:18
Success can be a dangerous thing. It can have an intoxicating effect on us. The temptation to our pride is to bask in the light of accolades, peer respect, money, and power. It can cause us to lose sight of the fact that all we have belongs to God and we are merely stewards of His provision to administer it for our needs and the needs of others. The temptation is to hoard it for ourselves.
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:16-21
A great danger of success is that it can cause us to neglect our relationship with God. We begin to rely on and trust in the mammon of this world.
My son do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3:1-4
Christian Communes, Business as Mission entities, Outreach Ministries, and Churches alike can all fall under the intoxicating spell of success. God cautions us to be careful to continually meditate on the Truth of His Word to overcome the danger of success.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8
He (Uzziah) set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. – 2 Chronicles 26:5
Our Father in Heaven loves us and His plans for us are for good. He desires to prosper us and give us success.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,“Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” – Psalm 35:27
Our flesh is weak and easily tempted. We must remain on guard against the danger of success through humble commitment to the Lord.
Commit all that you do to the Lord.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! – Psalm 90:17
Delight in your relationship with Jesus.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. – 1 Samuel 18:14
Stay Humble. Don’t let success go to your head.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. – James 4:10
…If riches increase, set not your heart on them. – Psalm 62:10
Success and prosperity are good things and a blessing from God. The danger stems from the attitude of our heart as to how we handle success. May your prayer be as that of the psalmist:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me; I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 51:10; Psalm 119:11
Sword of the Spirit 