“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18
Megalomania:
-Obsession with the exercise of power, especially in regards to the domination of others.
– Delusion about one’s own power or importance.
How would you describe success?
Webster’s says this:
The accomplishment of an aim or purpose, the attainment of popularity or profit.
Synonyms: prosperity, affluence, wealth, riches, opulence.
Who doesn’t want to be”successful”?
Everything describing success in Webster’s dictionary sounds terrific;
there is nothing wrong with any facet of success, in and of itself.
The problem with success lies with what has a tendency to overtake the heart of the sucessful.
The website, I AM SECOND, actually lists “Success” as a stumbling block, along with addictions, emotional dysfunctions, etc..
David and Solomon started out great, their hearts were fixed on abiding with God and obeying Him,
but as they grew more and more successful pride grew in their hearts and they got their priorities all mixed up.
As the blessings God gave them grew – favor, influence, riches, and power, they came to think that they were actually the ones pulling the strings; instead of thanking God and never forgetting that He is above all else,
they became deluded into thinking they were in charge rather than the King of the Universe…
and so they began the scorn God’s word.
The resulting consequences were ugly.
There is nothing new under the sun.
Success has a way of puffing up those who have been blessed.
The challenge of those blessed with success is to pursue humility.
“Do nothing out of vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Phil. 2:3
Scorn not God, or success in or of itself, but scorn the worship of success– be vigilant and don’t let it become an idol.
In the inside-out, upside-down universe of spiritual principles, the pride of success ultimately brings a downfall,
but as we walk in humility before the LORD- keeping Him alone preeminent, beloved, He promises to lift us up.