HOW TO COPE WITH SUCCESS (7)

TOPIC: HOW TO COPE WITH SUCCESS (7)
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 11:1-17

Finally, from David’s end, he acted in his ignorance. Let me quickly reminds you, do not forget that you are vulnerable too. There was an event that overnight nullified much of David’s success. A speaker once noted that most successful people fall because of one or more of “the four S’s”: “Silver,” “Sloth,” “Sex,” or “Self.” Silver was not a major temptation to David, but the three other S’s nearly ruined him. David was a passionate man. This was commendable when he was praising the Lord, fighting the Lord’s battles, or making sweeping plans for the future. His strength became his weakness, however, when it came to beautiful women. When idleness, sexual temptation, and selfishness converged one evening, David fell with a crash that reverberated throughout the kingdom.

David was not sufficiently aware of his vulnerability, or if aware of it, he did not take sufficient precautions to protect himself. James warned, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:14; emphasis mine). Each of us is vulnerable. Each of us has his own areas of weaknesses. My weaknesses are not necessarily yours, nor yours mine. Each needs to be aware of his weaknesses so he can avoid situations of temptation. One thing is sure: The devil knows your areas of weakness and will make every effort to exploit them. If you have not already done so, do some serious soul-searching to discover your areas of vulnerability; then decide how you can avoid temptation in those areas.

The facts that we are here today, have clothes on our backs, and are breathing proclaim that to some extent God has given us success. Let us learn from the successes of David: on the one hand, to give God the glory and, on the other, to avoid the pitfalls success can bring. Jesus once challenged His disciples with this question: “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). If you lose what is most important, you can be the greatest success in the world and, at the same time, the greatest failure. Your soul is much more important to God than your successes.

Word Affirmation: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever - Psalm 23:6 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“One thing is sure: The devil knows your areas of weakness and will make every effort to exploit them. ”

Central Truth