Success is dangerous, deceptive, and often deadly, depending on one’s response to it. Today, the world seems bent on obtaining success. Even Christians can be led astray by world’s definition of success—wealth, position, pleasure, and the applause of man.

But even those who don’t overtly chase the world’s success can be taken down when they lose sight of God in the midst of His blessings. After all, it was only when the Israelites were overloaded with material abundance that they forgot God. This “success” was exactly what they had been warned about in Deuteronomy 8. But it didn’t make a difference. 

In contrast, it was their darkest desperation that brought them back to God. As recorded in the book of Judges, time after time the Israelites cried out to God in the midst of suffering. Like Israel, nations topple when they forget God. America should pause to reflect. 

Success has destroyed nations and individuals, and it can destroy us. But it doesn’t have to.

The Story of Success

The danger of success proves true not only with nations, but also in individual lives. David committed his great sin with Bathsheba, not while on the run from Saul or while tending sheep, but after the Lord had blessed and firmly established his kingdom.

At the beginning of his reign, Solomon felt overwhelmed by monumental task of kingship. This desperation drove him to humility as he cried out for wisdom. Remember, Solomon never would have asked for wisdom had he thought he already knew everything he needed to know. But then, Solomon came to the place where he grasped all one could desire—fame, wealth, women, comfort. In his old age, his wives turned away his heart, and ultimately, Solomon’s reign sowed the fatal seeds that caused the downfall and division of the united kingdom of Israel.

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, prospered for three years while he sought the Lord. “And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him” (2 Chronicles 12:1). God punished Rehoboam, sending the Egyptians to storm Jerusalem and loot the treasures of the temple and the empire.

These examples, and many more, are in God’s Word to remind us of the danger of relying on ourselves. 

History records numerous examples of men and women who began with godly intentions, but were destroyed by success. From ministry leaders and pastors, politicians and businessmen, these stories should sober us.

Why Is Success So Deadly?

Success in any area can cause us to think we can do life ourselves. We can face life like Samson, who after being shaved turned to face the Philistines, saying to himself, “‘I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.” But “he wist not that the Lord was departed from him” (Judges 16:20).

Additionally, success can make us lazy. We think that because we’ve worked hard, we can now relax spiritually. We can become like David, gazing over the city from the rooftop of his house, while his men battled and besieged the Ammonites.

Sometimes overconfidence in ourselves leads to a spectacular fall, but other times, it causes a slow rotting away on the inside. The end result is the same.

How To Not Be Deceived By Success

There are two definitions of success. The world says you need to be successful so others will applaud you. God promises that the greatest success comes from his praise alone, through daily obedience. 

Success is not inherently evil, if it comes from God. If God gives us position, wealth, fame, or power, our responsibility to Him is still the same. Both Daniel and Joseph remained faithful to the Lord in the face of success.

That being said, even success from God’s blessing must be tempered with humility. Paul stated, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Psalm 147:6 says, “The Lord lifteth up the meek.”

In the end, success reveals who we really are. “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise” (Proverbs 27:21).

Responding with Humility and Confidence

Success must be met with humility in ourselves and confidence in the Lord.

David exclaimed, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet (Psalm 8:3-6). In short, David realized that on his own, he was a tiny speck compared to the vast universe. But through his God, David was given glory, honor, dominion, and a rank a little below the angels.

Success will not destroy those whose souls are transfixed by the greatness of God. He is Creator, Savior, and King. We are nothing without Him. But in Him, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and we sit in heavenly places. Through His strength, we can do anything He calls us to do.

Why would we ever seek the applause of mortal man over the praise of eternal God?

Question: How should the Christian respond to success?