SUCCESS AND ITS ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS:
Many people desire and pray to be successful and have no thought that success has its consequences and challenges. Every level you are in life has its peculiar problems. There could be positive or negative. I remember when I sought for a new job in the banking industry and after a rigorous interview process I was considered for the position. It was in a senior management cadre and a multiple purpose leadership responsibility. As I prepared for the job interview the demands were very obvious. I knew right there that I would have to change or adjust the way I do certain things to enable me hold that position successfully. It would entail maximizing my time, positive dress code, satisfying your boss and managing your staff; most importantly customer’s satisfaction. As I assumed duty, the pay was fantastic and inviting to put in all to hold on to it but I found out that there were untold demands I could not imagined from outside. I wish to summarize them in a few words: ability and wisdom to solve problems. However, there is a part most people take for granted and it’s the challenge of finding time in the midst of the busy work schedules to fall in love with God who has lifted you up to that position; to stay on course with your calling as an elect of the Lord.
Moses went to bed in the night a poor shepherd but woke up the next day promoted national leader of one of the most stubborn people in the surface of the earth. When Moses brought the children of Israel out of the bandage of Egypt he had challenges of leading them aright and ensuring they obey the laws of God and do neither worship foreign gods (idols) nor marry from the people they lived in their land. The situation before them had different problem while after they passed Red Sea entailed new sets of rules and new directions. Even the approach to Jordan was different from that of Red Sea. As if that was not enough trouble in itself, their leader Moses died and God had to choose a new inexperienced leader, Joshua, former servant of Moses; telling him his apprenticeship was over and He was now a new leader to lead them across Jordan. He promised Joshua, I shall with you just like I was with your master; just be strong and of good courage. Allow the Ark of covenant of the Lord to go in front and the people followed in a distance. Sanctify self for ‘morrow and awaits the wonder from the Lord.
I know a business friend who at a time was relative poor yet he related to people well and was accessible to both friends and relative and a good Church man. He was regular at the Church worship services, prayer sessions and bible studies. However, when his situation turned around for good and he became rich and comfortable, he was saucy and inaccessible, incommunicado and incontinent especially in sexual activity. He built an empire around himself and surrounded himself with new friends and terrible security men yet he was fearful and unhappy. He was rarely seen at Church and appeared to forget that every up-liftment comes from God (Psalm 75:6, 7). Every new height and level has its problems and you should be ready to face them. How you contain and manage this position will determine your promotion or failure. It is important that you do not allow your promotion to consume you and you forget your God and how and where you where before your fortune changed.
Before Saul of Tarsus met with Christ, he had confidence in the flesh and earthly accomplishments. He even recalled, “I was circumcised on the eight day.” It means his parents were true Jewish, who obeyed religiously the God’s rules of circumcision of the flesh on the eight day from birth (Leviticus 12:2, 3). He hailed from the nation of Israel; the people of Israel are regarded as God’s people. He was also from the tribe of Benjamin; highly respected because she produced Israel’s first king and remained royal to David after exile and together with Judah fought against Israel to bring the kingdom again under Re-ho-boam; thereby formed the foundation for the restored nation (1 Samuel 9:15f; 1 King 12:21f). Saul described himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a Pharisee that means he was highly educated in Jewish customs and traditions and adhered to the laws of Moses. He was among those who spearheaded opposition against Jesus and the people of the way. He studied under Gamaliel, a highly respected Jewish scholar and teacher of the law and a member of Jewish council (Acts 22:3; 23:6). He was zealous about the synagogue and Jewish religion; determined to fight the new religion of Jesus Christ and the Church. These were his interest and success points at that level of his life.
However, when Saul encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus, that one time event changed his life and mission; he counted all those earthly achievements worthless and rubbish. He began to encounter new challenges and new problems. His name changed from Saul to Paul and his value system changed; the value of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection as well as sharing in the fellowship of His suffering and death surpassed all early achievements. His challenge was how to keep faith in Christ, live in Him and serve Him faithfully such that he will make heaven and eternity. The demands of the new life focused on Christ and Him only. Most importantly, he was determined to fulfill the purpose of his conversion. By this new commitment, he has decided to do away with worldliness and its associated appetizers and influences. He must die to self daily; debunk self of greed, covetousness, ego and gains and selfishness. There was a change of government and Master. Satan had ceased to be his master and the controller of his life. This new change brought persecution by those who were his former counterparts in fighting Christianity.
In another encounter, when David defeated Goliath, he was admired, adored and celebrated; the women of Israel came out in great multitude and sang his praise, playing instrument of tambourines and harps to welcome King Saul from the battle: “Saul killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand enemies.” They demanded to make David a king. This joyful presentation became offensive to King Saul and he hated David with a passion and made several attempts on his life. King Saul even gave his daughter to David in marriage as a means to scheme and woo him to death. His threats became so obvious that Jonathan, Saul’s son warned David, “My father is trying to have you killed, so be careful…” (1 Samuel 19:2-3). In another deadly move, “Saul sent guards to watch David’s house all night and then kill him in the morning” (vs. 11).
At this level of success, David’s life was at risk and he became a threat to King Saul. David lived as a fugitive most times and escape to towns of Nob and Gath respectively yet he could not hide became by the defeat of the Philistines, he became popular and a household name and figure. David who was brought to the King’s palace to play music while the evil spirit came upon king Saul had many opportunities to kill King Saul but he restrained himself from such act. Saying it was against God’s good wishes to put his hand on God’s appointed (1 Samuel 26:7-11). David’s success brought him up-liftment; however perusing the Psalms of David reveals many occasions he cried for protection and felt like disappearing from the face of the earth.
Joseph, the dreamer boy was lifted from the pit and sold to the Egyptian slave merchants (the Ishmaelite) who later sold him to Pontiphar, the king’s commander-in-charge of palace guards. Even though he was a slave boy in Pontiphar’s household but it was better than being put in the pit by jealous and hateful brothers, not knowing his fate. In Pontiphar’s house, Joseph was loved by his mater and all because the Lord was with him and he was successful in everything he did. Pontiphar then put him in charge of his house and all his property. Because of Joseph, God prospered Pontiphar’s family and endeavors. Joseph began to feel comfortable and seem to forget all his past frustrations, betrayal and pains. However, little did he know that every promotion to the next level had its challenges and problems? It wasn’t long that Satan went into his master’s wife and she set her lustful eyes on Joseph, who was handsome and well built; also the favor of God was on him. She asked and persuaded Joseph to sleep with her severally but the young lad refused. The woman persisted in her lustful demands but Joseph refused the more because he considered such behavior as a sin and wickedness not only against his master alone but more importantly against God (Genesis 39). His blunt refusal caused the master’s wife some feeling of betrayal and she concocted a lie against Joseph that ended him in the king’s prison facility but God was still with Him. Even in prison, God showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of prison guards.
In this era, some women still lust at successful men and are attracted to young handsome men in authority; would do everything to get at them. Young executives should learn from the wisdom of Joseph. The scripture warns, “The words of an immoral woman may be as sweet as honey and as smooth as olive oil. But all that you really get from being with her is bitter poison and pain. If you follow her, she will lead you down to the world of dead” (Proverbs 5:3-5). It went further to warn, “Stay away from a bad woman! Don’t even go near the door of her house. You will lose your self respect and end up in debt to some cruel person for the rest of your life. Strangers will get your money and everything else you have worked for” (vs. 8-10). “………If you do go to bed with another man’s wife, you will destroy yourself by your stupidity” (Proverbs 6:23- 32). Most men in authority fall from grace to grass for ill association with loose women.