An addiction to success can develop in our lives, when we do not know how much is enough and what to do when we attain our goals.
In evaluating his first twenty years as ruler, one could easily affirm that King Solomon was amazingly successful. Solomon was at the point in his life where he needed to direct his mindset from one of success to that of significance, in order to prevent his achievements from dwindling into failures.
When he had finished building the Temple and his own palace, Solomon had accomplished all that he desired. At that moment in time, the Lord appeared to him again (1 Kgs 9:1-2); although, this occasion was different in that God did not ask Solomon what he wanted (cf. 3:5). God warned the king what would occur if he did not measure success by what God desired from him (9:3-9).
Achieving Success vs. Achieving Significance
Solomon is one of the foremost examples of the truth that our greatest threat can be our own self. Solomon’s successes occurred more extensively and rapidly than anyone in his generation. When Solomon was experiencing the pinnacle of his reign, his contemporaries certainly imagined that his kingdom would endure for a thousand years. Yet the king drifted from God, and his self-indulgence kept producing ignominious results until he recognized the “vanity of vanities” arising from his own actions (Eccl 1:2).
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
- Luke 12:48
From Midnight Call magazine
