We have explored together this week the idol of success. In review we have seen that success becomes an idol when it consumes our time, resources, thoughts, and passion more than Christ. Success in itself is not necessarily bad, but when our response to it becomes our object of affection, it is sin. Yesterday we explored some antidotes to guard our hearts from making an idol of success. Remember, the success is not the idol; our worship of success is the idol. If you begin thinking you deserve special recognition, think more and more about how to be successful or maintain your level of success, if your time with the Lord loses its place of priority, if your family time becomes less and less frequent, if God’s will and ways become less important to you, stop and realize you are headed down a dead end road. While the world may believe we are living a life of success, if we are neglecting the Word of God and living independently of the Lord, we are sinning.
So, let’s review how to tear down the idols of success. First of all, we must recognize that true success is knowing what God says in His Word and doing it. The result of this lifestyle is true success, whatever your bank account shows, whatever the size of your house or family, true success is obeying God. Living daily in His will and humbly seeking to know His Word is success. Learning truths found in Scripture and obeying quickly without delay is success. Next, if you begin to believe that you deserve special recognition or status pause and ask yourself what you truly deserve. What does Scripture say we deserve. We by our very natures are sinful beings apart from Christ. Independent from Him we can do no good thing. He is the good in us. We deserve death and separation from God. Yet, the gospel says, Christ died for us, not only for a life of eternity with Him, but also a life today in fullness and joy with Him. Do you regularly thank God for the work He has done, is doing, and will do in your life? Thank Him today for saving you. Another litmus test for discovering and dealing with this monster idol is to examine your own heart. Have you become prideful in your accomplishments? Do you falsely believe that YOU earned the life you now life? Did your hard work, personality, gifts, appearance, talents get you to where you are today? Stop, ask God to examine your heart. Does He agree? Everything listed above comes from Him. He gave you the strength and energy, the health and vitality to work hard. He knit you together before you were ever born; you had nothing to do with it. He graced you with the personality and talents you have. Confess the sin of pride. Ask God to remind you daily where your abilities came from. Ask God to keep you humble and continually remind yourself what God is doing daily in your life to sustain and protect you. Recognize the power of God and the foolishness of pride. Submit regularly to the incredible wise and holy God. He will guard you from living a life of wasted pride in self and the idol of success.
Psalm 19:14(ESV)
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
1 Thessalonians 2:4(ESV)
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Humbly
Dennis
Posted on
Friday, February 12, 2010
by Dennis Newkirk