Don't Let Success Be the Enemy of GoodnessSample

Day 1: Being 'successful' doesn't necessarily mean we're good. 

In the world, it is often assumed that to be successful - rich and powerful - automatically means we're good. After all, 'might is right', right? Naaman (in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings), looked successful and good to the world, but he, like us all, had an Achilles' heel. 

Naaman was great and mighty, brave and strong. But all these 'good' attributes in the world's eyes were employed against God's people because Naaman was an enemy warrior to Israel. So far, so bad. 

Naaman's Achilles' heel was his leprosy, a cruel disease that makes its sufferer unable to feel pain. We might think that sounds okay, but the pain is often a warning to us to avoid what could damage us, like boiling water or burning flames. Without pain to warn them, lepers lose skin and even flesh, especially on their hands and feet. 

So Naaman, a humanly successful man, was a man with feet of clay and an enemy of God's people. Is there hope for a man like him before Almighty God? Thankfully, we'll find out that there is. 

'Heavenly Father, whether we're successful or not, please help us to hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, and be satisfied by You. in Jesus' name, amen.'

What is your priority in life, to be successful, or good?