Success. We chase it, pray for it, and celebrate it. But what if success isn’t the safe place we think it is? What if success—more than failure—puts us in the most vulnerable position of all? A business leader once told me he was more nervous when his company became #1 than when it was struggling to survive. “We’ve never been more at risk of failure than we are right now,” he admitted. He understood a truth many overlook: success is more dangerous than failure.
The Bible’s Cautionary Tales of Success
Scripture is full of stories that back this up.
- Elijah collapsed into depression after his mountaintop victory over the prophets of Baal.
- Noah gave in to sin after surviving the greatest global crisis in history.
- David fell into scandal and moral failure after exceptional success as a soldier and king.
- Jonah sulked in self-pity after leading the most successful revival in history.
- Moses, who led God’s people through 10 plagues, the Red Sea, miracles and the wilderness, never made it into the Promised Land.
- Solomon was always the wisest man in the room, but ended his life in spiritual disaster.
What happened? At some point, success lulled them into a false sense of security. They relaxed, lost focus, or let their guard down. They became complacent and perhaps so accustomed to the Lord’s blessings that they began to expect it. Maybe they even began to forget that it was the Lord blessing them in the first place, rather than their own efforts. In any case, success made them vulnerable.
Why Success Is So Dangerous
For churches and ministries, the real problem with success is what happens when we forget the Source and stop labouring for Him:
- We feel entitled to rest and recognition.
- We believe we’ve arrived.
- We take our foot off the gas.
- We stop creating, stop risking, and start protecting what we’ve built.
- We shift from being outward-focused to inward-focused.
When a church reaches a comfortable size, owns its building, and pays all its bills on time, something subtle can happen: the mission fades. Evangelism and baptisms slow. The congregation gets stuck in a routine. And just when everything seems to be running smoothly… things start to drift.
How to Guard Against the Dangers of Success
So, what can we do? Here are three practical ways to stay sharp when it looks like we’ve achieved success:
- Set the Next Goal Now
Don’t wait until you “arrive” to ask, what’s next? Set a fresh vision while you’re still climbing. As the Apostle Paul said, “Forgetting what is behind… I press on.” Stay forward-facing. Don’t settle for one summit—look for the next.
- Embrace the Struggle
There’s something intrinsically healthy about the uphill battle. It keeps us dependent on God, attentive to Him, and humble. Sometimes, the climb is more important than the view from the top.
- Never Forget: Success Is Temporary
Whatever you’ve accomplished—remember, it wasn’t really you. Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” That word “nothing” is humbling. It leaves no room for self-congratulation. One day, we’ll learn that not all our “wins” made it onto God’s scoreboard.
Need Help Refocusing Your Church on THE Mission?
At Biblical Ministries South Africa, we believe the ultimate mission of the church (and for all of us) is the Great Commission. When we lose focus on that, we tend to veer off the path that Jesus set out for us. We offer free workshops to help churches like yours cast fresh vision and stay mission-focused—even when things are going well. In fact, that’s the BEST time to dive into it!
Success is never the end. It’s just the next beginning. Contact us to schedule a free workshop for your church leaders and let’s keep THE mission in full view.
