Successfuly Independent ~ 2 Chronicles 12

“Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord…” 2 Chronicles 12:1a NKJV

              Success has always been a fascinating discussion topic for me.  What truly is success?  At what point is one truly considered to be successful?  And at that point who is the one defining the other’s success?  Can one be seen as successful to some but be seen as unsuccessful to another?  With an obvious yes to the latter question, we see that the handling of success in our world is a slippery slope to ascend indeed.  But our discussion point on success today is how does it change the individual that claims it as a personal possession?  And as you place your newfound pet, success, on a personal pedestal, how exactly does that affect your ongoing need of God?  It brings to mind a quote from the prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, on the subject: “many can endure the trials of adversity who cannot escape the perils of prosperity and success. Many a man has failed in that time of testing. When you come to be wealthy, to be admired, to receive honor among men, then is the time of your severest trial.”

              King Solomon claims possibly one of the biggest falls in the Word of God. Prepared by his father King David that carried a heart after God’s own, propped up by the provision and preparation of the same father, and then granted unlimited Godly wisdom to lead God’s people, Solomon had all he needed.  Seemingly.  Yet at the peak of his grand success, he plummeted.  Gold, horses, wives, exotic animals, lush homes, admiration from kings and queens from distant lands, and the wisdom to run it all eventually pulled the heart of Solomon to a distant edge.  An edge that found him standing alone in his distant success…distant from Almighty God that delivered him there.  And as sad as it may seem, this story is not the personal property of Solomon alone.  It recurs only a few chapters later in the life of his son Rehoboam…and it continues in countless lives today.

              Rehoboam was Solomon’s favorite son by his favorite wife, and as such, was handed the throne on a silver platter.  And what we see in one of the first verses describing the new reign of king Rehoboam says it all.  After he was fully established as king and after he felt strong and secure in his position, he let go of the very One that delivered him to the throne.  In his desperate chase and conquest of that fabled beast, success, he immediately abandoned the very One that could steal it away as quickly as it was granted.  And that is just what transpired.

              The comical idea that confronts us about man’s dealings with Almighty God is that He can be used and then summarily dismissed when man’s ideal of success is achieved.  That somehow when man secures his personal ideal of success, he can hit the autopilot button and God is no longer needed to fly to the far horizon of perpetual success.  But folks, in an ironic turn in defining true success, I would declare that it is properly defined not by anything you can touch, keep, possess, or that benefits the one that attempts to possess it…but benefits God.  You see, the hearts that beat within our human chests are clearly defined as evil and impossible to understand.  (Jeremiah 17:9) Why then would we attempt to feed it that in which it desires?  For after all, our biggest dog is the one we feed the most.

              We have today in our grasp the very Words of God.  The very presence of God that promises to offset and conquer the evil of our wicked hearts when sought, learned, and executed through the Holy Spirit of God.  And folks, look around our world today, we need more God’s way and less human way.  The human way is the way of Solomon and the way of Rehoboam.  To follow God until He delivers us at the doorstep of success and then abandon Him and attempt to proceed on in our own way.  For all hearts have gone astray, are astray, and will continue in that direction…unless wherever you are today in your stiving for success, you simply stop, acknowledge the Lord, and commit to live the Law (Word) of God.  For in the Word of God we have the only anchor in this world that can moor the heart to where God intends it to be.  Close to Him, moored in humility, and held in obedience.

              Refuse to allow your success to be the destination of your tomorrow when the Lord is ready to be your destination today.

Pray for each other ~ Dan

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

hand-painted alebrije, Taller Jacobo y Maria, San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico