How to Handle Success With Humility and Wisdom

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 18, 2017

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.  2 John 8

Success is wise stewardship; so do not take it for granted. God has blessed you for a purpose, and success is part of His purpose for you. However, if you do not steward wisely and responsibly the blessing of His success, you may very well lose it. Success means you have the attention of your peers and others in your industry and community. Your success over the years may have even gained the respect of many you have never met. Your family respects you; your church respects you; your friends respect you; your work associates respect you. But success is not designed to lull you into apathetic work and lazy living.

Success is meant to drive you to your knees in gratitude to God. Success is an opportunity to seek God for His wisdom regarding a new set of problems and opportunities. Normally, current issues require different answers from those in the past. The process of solving them may be similar, but the solutions are different. You have fared well until now without a structured board of directors or advisory board, but because of your level of success, one or both of these may be necessary, so you have expert advisors and wise counsel surrounding you.

Accountability and wise counsel are big parts of stewarding success. Also, use fiscal restraint. It may take you five years instead of two years for you to reach certain financial milestones. It is better to extend your goals, and avoid unnecessary leverage. Even if people want to throw debt at you, reject the flattery and “just say no.” This is wise stewardship of success.

Now that you have enjoyed some level of success, you do not have to prove yourself. By God’s grace, you have earned the right to serve in the role of influencer. You can prayerfully set trends and experiment with new processes and products. But develop these new initiatives from the platform of prayer. Do not take unnecessary risks. Conserve your successful results and build your organization from a position of strength. Use success as a springboard for innovation and excellence. Do one thing well and another thing well and another thing well.

Success can cause you to run ahead of relationships and resources. You can avoid this trap of over-subscribing to activity by staying regimented with a process that leads to thorough execution. You have worked hard for the success you are experiencing; so be even more accountable in your life and work. Make sure your character keeps up with your success. You will maintain success if the depth of your character supports the breadth of your success.

If you, as the leader, do not model this, you will lose. You will lose your best people, you will lose new opportunities, and you will lose your success. The stewardship of success is daunting without God’s wisdom and the godly counsel of others. Slow down and be coachable. Look into the mirror; ask what needs to be changed, and then change. Do not lose what you have worked for. His reward is your greatest success.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21).

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