7/15/15: Two Things that Block Success and Blessing

Most people want success. From the time we are very small children, we are aware of the satisfaction of winning and gaining what we want. Some of us remain quite competitive, and many of us channel that urge to win and gain into the drive for personal success in all areas of our lives.

Then we become believers, and we carry that drive for success over into our Christian lives and figure we can continue to bolster ourselves to higher heights spiritually. Here’s where we go wrong. We are not elevated in spiritual things in the same way we are elevated in earthly or carnal things. In carnal, fleshly, or natural things, we can elevate ourselves to our own level of incompetence. In spiritual things, we cannot do the elevating. God is the Elevator and He’s the One who judges, opens doors, and makes placements. God alone doles out blessings and causes success.

Now here’s how we can mess that up. Let’s look at two examples in Second Chronicles chapters 25 and 26. The first blockage to success in God is shown by King Amaziah. His mistake was that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart” Second Chronicles 25:2 (NKJ). King Uzziah lived out the second blockage to success in God. His mistake was that he got so successful that he forgot it was God who was making him great. We are told that “as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper… And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” Second Chronicles 26:5, 15-16.

So what are the two things that block success and blessing? First, we will block our blessings and thwart our success by just going through the motions like King Amaziah did. We do not want to be guilty of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” Second Timothy 3:5. Second, like King Uzziah, we will block our blessings and thwart our success by getting too big for our britches and forgetting that God is the Source and the Power behind all we have and do.

Let’s be sincere in our work for God. And as the saying goes, let’s never forget to remember where all our blessings come from.

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