Remember What Got You There....

Have you ever watched someone who evolved into a totally different person as they experienced success?  What do you think happened?

Romans, Chapter 1 provides good thoughts on one explaination of how leaders can take a wrong path.

In verse 17, Paul starts off by saying that the "Righteous shall live by faith."  So often when we are at the beginning of a new journey, we need to check in with God to help us.  God is always willing to guide us, and he wants the very best for us.  The issue occurs when the success starts to come and we begin to believe that we are the reason for the results.  In verse 21, Paus says "For although they knew God, they did not honor him or give him thanks, but became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened." 

This is a transition point.  When leaders actively choose to ignore the help that God provided in terms of guidance, their future is put in jeopardy.  In verse 27 Paul says "Claiming to be wise, they became fools."  Once pride takes over, confidence extends to areas that may not be realistic.  We set ourselves up for failure because we believe we know the best way to navigate the path.  We set our sites on worshiping the prize or the title, or the money, and not what God put you in the position to do.  For this reason Paul says that "God gave them up because they worshiped the creature rather than the creator."  I think that means that the focus became the "stuff"  and not the "substance"  Usually this is the part of the story where the leader has their fall from grace. 

So how do you insure that this doesn't happen to you?

1. Don't forget who put you in the position that you are in.
2. Ask yourself why you have been blessed with your success?  What does he want you to do with it.....
3. Put people around you who will keep your pride in check and insure that you focus on your responsibility, not your reward.

These three steps should at least give you an integrity check to help limit your risk of falling out of favor with God as you experience the benefits of his blessings......It's not about you.