Practicing idolatry is a subtle and dangerous sin. It can penetrate into our most healthy desires, making us dishonour God.
Anything can become an idol—even things as good as personal success. There is nothing wrong with personal success. In fact, God wants you to have it. He promised it to Joshua if he obeyed God's Word and walked in His ways (Joshua 1:8).
God's desire is to build up Christians who will gain personal success in their work, marriage, friendships, parenting, and ministry.
But success, just like anything, can become an idol. When our life becomes too much about gaining a name for ourselves, we have turned our own success into our "god."
Under this circumstance, we would be just like the people in the tower of Babel, who set out to build a monument not for God's glory but for their own.
We have our own Babels that we need to stop pursuing. Here are four things you can do to stop your personal success from becoming an idol.
1. Seek First the Advancement of God's Kingdom
Personal success must always only come second to God's glory. We exist primarily for the honour of God. Matthew 6:33 reminds us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
The wonderful thing about seeking God first is that when we do that, God will undoubtedly add personal success to us as well. If we seek to advance God's agenda, He will take care of ours as well.
2. Focus on the Success of Others
What are you doing to build up other people around you? The world wants you to believe that to be successful, you have to push down others around you so you can stand out.
But God's way is completely different. We believe in building each other up so we can reach greater heights together.
When our pursuit of success becomes too much about having more than others, then we have made it an idol. Godly work and leadership seek not just personal success, but the success of others as well.
3. Don't Do Things for Personal Reward Alone
Work is the primary way that we earn a living, that's true. However, that's not the only purpose of work. Work has other equally important goals, which usually revolve around bringing value to others.
When we focus on building value solely on ourselves, success has become an idol. But when we build value for others as well as for ourselves, we pursue success the way God would have us.
4. Learn to Take Failure Well
Everyone will experience failure at one point in their pursuit of success, and that's part of the process. There are those that might not take failure too well because they're too hooked to their reputation and image. Success is not about building a name for ourselves, but keeping our eyes on the ultimate prize and persevering until the task is complete.
Failure is one way of reminding us that success has nothing to do with our personal gain. When we know how to handle it well, we'll know that personal success is not the primary motive of our heart.
