«Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven» (Luke 10:20).
Success can be much worse than failure. Imagine if you spend life chasing after your own glory and have the misfortune of being successful at it. Imagine if you manage to get people to applaud and admire you but, instead of growing in Christ’s likeness, you swell with pride. It would be tragic!
Charles Spurgeon, the nineteenth century British preacher, believed that very few people could be successful without becoming vain. «Very few people can tolerate success. Nobody can achieve it unless they receive abundant grace! And if, after a little success, you begin to say, «Now I am someone. Didn’t I do well? Those poor old people don’t know how to do it. I’ll teach them!» you should return to last place; you still cannot tolerate success! It is clear you cannot receive praise.»
Our culture tells us that success means standing out, but that is nothing new. One of the reasons why the inhabitants of Babel built a tower was so that they could make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). In His mercy, God sometimes makes us abandon our half-built towers. In His compassion, He gives us failure so that we may avoid spending our lives in search of our own glory, to avoid investing every single heartbeat in obtaining a crown of laurel leaves that will wither.
When I say God sometimes gives us failure, I am not talking about burying our talents under a fine layer of fear and false modesty. That would do no one any good. I am talking about something that is much harder: acknowledging our intentions. Am I trying to overcome sin, help others and use my influence to serve, or to attain a crown of laurels?
God wants us to look for a higher fame, the incorruptible heavenly crown. Where would you rather be famous: on earth or in heaven? Choosing popularity here on earth is like trading gold for colored mirrors. Are you willing to sacrifice your reputation, like Mary; your money, like Matthew; or your prestige, like Paul, to be famous in heaven? Let us place worldly success on the altar and gratefully receive the gift of failure, if it will draw us closer to God.
Dear Lord, protect me from success that is not convenient for me, that would make me puff up like a frog and forget You. Destroy my towers of Babel. Give me the wisdom to realize which trophies are worthwhile. Help me to only seek Your applause in life.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Perez & Angelica Cuate
