What are the dangers of victory? - Victory - TouchPoints

Deuteronomy 8:11-12, 14“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, . . . Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”

1 Kings 19:1-4When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

We are usually most vulnerable after a victory. Pride can make us begin to feel overconfident, and when there is no longer a big goal to push toward, we lose focus and motivation. Opposition that follows victory can often catch us by surprise, as it did Elijah, and reveal deep insecurity or momentary weakness. We cannot afford to stop relying on God for a moment.

Exodus 18:14, 18When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” . . . “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.”

2 Samuel 21:15When David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.

Sometimes we feel burned out at the end of a project or great personal victory. When we are stretched in every direction for too long, we lose focus and can’t do anything well. Adequate sleep, good nourishment, and asking for help can refresh us and prepare us for our next challenges with renewed vision and energy.

1 Samuel 24:4-7“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

Matthew 16:26-27“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.”

Some “victories” are simply too costly. Angry debates, insults, accusations, verbal manipulation, and character assassination are some of the ways we try to win our conflicts. But victory isn’t worth wounding people to achieve it. If we have to abuse or take advantage of people to achieve our goals, we have not scored a victory at all.