The Danger of Success
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Luke 6:24–26
Some of the most dangerous times any of us face in our Christian walk are the moments of great victory and success. When it seems like everything is going our way, we are tempted to become proud and assume it is our doing than remembering that all that we do is accomplished only through God’s grace and strength freely bestowed on us. This foolish pride in our success leads to a great fall. Proverbs 1:32 warns: “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”
Rather than making us proud, success should make us humble and grateful. Andrew Murray wrote, “The humble man has learned the secret of abiding gladness. The weaker he feels, the lower he sinks, and the greater his humiliations appear, the more power and the presence of Christ are his portion.” There is no real and lasting success possible apart from God’s help, and there is no faster way for us to lose His blessing than to attempt to take the credit and glory for ourselves.
When Saul was anointed king over Israel, he was humble; but his position lifted up his view of himself, and he stopped caring about obedience to God. “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?” (1 Samuel 15:17). As a result of Saul’s pride, the throne was taken from him and given to David.
Luke 6:24–26
Some of the most dangerous times any of us face in our Christian walk are the moments of great victory and success. When it seems like everything is going our way, we are tempted to become proud and assume it is our doing than remembering that all that we do is accomplished only through God’s grace and strength freely bestowed on us. This foolish pride in our success leads to a great fall. Proverbs 1:32 warns: “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”
Rather than making us proud, success should make us humble and grateful. Andrew Murray wrote, “The humble man has learned the secret of abiding gladness. The weaker he feels, the lower he sinks, and the greater his humiliations appear, the more power and the presence of Christ are his portion.” There is no real and lasting success possible apart from God’s help, and there is no faster way for us to lose His blessing than to attempt to take the credit and glory for ourselves.
When Saul was anointed king over Israel, he was humble; but his position lifted up his view of himself, and he stopped caring about obedience to God. “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?” (1 Samuel 15:17). As a result of Saul’s pride, the throne was taken from him and given to David.
Today’s Growth Principle:
When God blesses you with success in your life, humbly give thanks to Him rather than taking the credit.
The Paraclete
by Joyce Meyer - posted February 07, 2016But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
—John 16:13
God knew you would need help in understanding His plan for you, so He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside you. He is your Guide, your Teacher of truth, your Comfort, and your Helper. He is also the Parakletos (Paraclete), which means counselor, advocate, and intercessor.
Jesus was confined to a body and could be only one place at a time. But He knew the Holy Spirit would be with you everywhere you go, all the time, leading and guiding you. Embrace the Holy Spirit in you, resting in the knowledge that in Him you are becoming everything God planned for you to be.
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