Can my accomplishments ever be dangerous? How? - Accomplishments - TouchPoints

Genesis 11:2-4As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

Although it is good to be committed to significant accomplishments, those accomplishments should be aligned with God’s higher purposes. The builders of the Tower of Babel pursued their accomplishment solely for their own glory—and as an act of defiance against God. Our highest achievements will always glorify God above ourselves.

2 Chronicles 26:14-16Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling . . . His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.

Uzziah’s success led to presumption and sin. The very accomplishments God allows and enables us to do can stir the pride that draws us away from him and seduces us into disobedience.

2 Chronicles 32:24-25About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 18:24If righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

John 15:5-6“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

Romans 11:18You must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

God used Hezekiah to accomplish great things for Judah, and he even listened to Hezekiah’s prayer to save him from sickness and extend his life. But instead of rejoicing in God’s goodness and mercy, Hezekiah became proud of his past accomplishments, neglecting to give glory to God, who had guided him through them.

Amos 6:4-7How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat of tender lambs from the flock and of choice calves fattened in the stall. You sing trivial songs to the sound of the harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians like David. You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation. Therefore, you will be the first to be led away as captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end.

Accomplishments cannot protect us from the consequences of selfish indulgence and injustice. We must not allow our success to insulate us from helping those God has put around us.