Moments of Great Accomplishments

“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 (NKJV)

How do you define success? How do you handle great accomplishments? How do you make certain that it does not take your focus away from the Lord?

The most dangerous time for any entrepreneur or leader is not when he/she faces the most difficulties; the most dangerous time is when he/she has achieved his greatest accomplishment. These are the times when he/she is given industry awards and recognized as “Best in Class” by their peers, they have successfully defeated the competition and clearly established themselves as the industry leader. They have achieved their highest revenue goal to date and all the trends indicate growth with no end in sight.

These are the moments that feed our pride, nurture our self-confidence and can lead us into a deadly trap of self-reliance. These are the moments that seduce us into relying on our own abilities, seeking out our own resources and basking in our own accomplishments. These are the times when our spiritual guards are down because we no longer need to stay on our knees to survive or to thrive. We have found our swag and there is no stopping us now.

It was during a moment like this that David, the greatest king committed adultery. When the woman got pregnant as a result of his adulterous act, he killed the woman’s husband in an attempt to cover up what he had done. It was during a moment like this that Solomon; the richest king began to marry foreign wives in direct disobedience to God. As a result, he started worshiping foreign gods.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 8, God warns the children of Israel about the danger of success (after He pronounced the blessing He would grant them after they arrived in the Promised Land.) To avoid ‘moments like these’ God tells them:

“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’” – Deuteronomy 8:10-17 (NKJV)

With such a strong warning, how can you then avoid the trappings and pride that comes with success? How do you make certain that success enhances your worship of God rather then takes your focus away from God?

Here are some insights from the instructions Jesus gave His disciples as they celebrated their victory over the power of darkness in Luke Chapter 10. Jesus sent them out to the various cities to carry out the work of ministry. When they returned they were overjoyed as they gave their report to the Master of the outcome of their trip. With great enthusiasm and pride about how successful the trip was, they said, “Lord even the demons are subject to us in Your name” – Luke 10:17 (NKJV). Jesus affirmed them for their victory and gave them even more authority. Then, He said to them, “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 (NKJV)

Jesus was coaching His disciples to keep their focus heavenward and not downward. When our focus is on who WE are and what WE’VE done it feeds our pride and moves us away from God. When our focus is on who GOD is and what HE is doing it keeps us in a state of worship and longing for the reward of the Father.

This is why in the Biblical Entrepreneurship Program we teach that profit is not the entrepreneur’s reward but rather the FRUIT of proper stewardship. The entrepreneur’s reward for a job well done is greater responsibilities and entering into the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. When you achieve success, rejoice not in the success, but in the fact that you have pleased the Father and heaven is celebrating you. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven and the Father shall reward you in eternity.

My prayer for you is that as you achieve great accomplishments through His business, it will bring you to a state of worship and joy for your name being written in heaven and the great rewards that await you there.