The Failure of Success

After church this evening we enjoyed a meal out with our friend Charlie Simineo. Nice weather good to sit out on the patio of the restaurant and feel more and more normalcy return to our lives. We took the regular wheelchair to our church service. Debbie cleaned up my car so it was primed and ready to go.

I did enjoy getting out for a short ride in my racing wheelchair. I took our dog along so I will blame my pace on the dog. My new “running app” said I was on a 38 minute per mile pace. So without help I would finish the Colfax 5K in the time it takes most runners to finish a half marathon!

Yesterday at the Capitol, I did have the opportunity to publicly greet my colleagues and to pray to open the session after the night time recess. The House was on the floor until 1:30 a.m. Friday. That means they had to go through the official start of the new legislative day that began after midnight. So technically they did not adjourn, but just put the House in recess until 10 a.m. They still had the regular opening activities. It is not too often you have two prayers over a session of the House. It looked like they needed it, because they were still in session late on Friday night.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….“Uzziah’s fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.  But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him….” 2 Chronicles 26:15,16

Uzziah was 16 years old when he became King and ruled 52 years, the second longest reign of any King of Judah.  However, the record of his leadership during those years is brief. The summary can be view as: he did what the Lord considered to be right during the days of the Priest Zechariah. He was successful in battle and had a large, well trained army. He became proud of his accomplishments. God stuck him with leprosy. He abdicated the throne to his son until he died. He was remembered as the King who had leprosy.

We can find ourselves muddled in failure, but it is important for us to “keep our heads” during times of success. While failure does not have to be fatal, success can be toxic, if we don’t stay on guard. Remember, the greater the success that comes from following the Lord whole-heartedly the greater the need to walk in humility. It is important for us to keep the Lord in view, to keep our ears open to Him and to realize that what we do, what we accomplish is because of His love and favor shown to us.