Success and the Recovering Person
As strange as it may sound, some have an aversion to the idea of becoming successful. Someone called it the “fear of success.”
However, God would have us successful. Joshua 1:8 records, the Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.
While we acknowledge that success does not mean easy street, nor does it mean self-glorification, nor becoming presumptuous, it pleases God when His children are successful. We are blessed to be a blessing, like Abraham our successful father.
Especially among recovering people there is a hesitancy to succeed. Some expect to always be needy. We are often more comfortable with failure. It has been our lifestyle for so long. Also, if we have relapsed during seasons of success, it leaves an indelible mark. We associate success with relapse, therefore, avoid success and we avoid relapse.
Success is not to be avoided. To our success should be added other qualities such as humility, faithfulness, service and generosity. By habitually observing these things we preserve the success God has allows us to achieve.
Over these 23 years I have come to know some of the most creative, talented and innovative people around. If God would help us tap this human resource for His Kingdom, the possibilities for good are limitless!
By so doing we would dry up the need to be overly dependent upon others. God promised Israel that if they followed Him and observed the principles He gave them, they would be the lender and not the borrower, above and not beneath, the head and not the tail. Deuteronomy 28:12&13
Another observation is that generous people willingly invest in those who demonstrate the motivation and discipline to succeed. They become jump-starters for potential greatness in others.
When I was making my way back to health and moral restoration, I was dirt poor. My credit score was at the bottom. My spiritual father took out a loan for me and said to faithfully pay it back over time. I did that and my credit score was restored. That was not the miracle. It was a miracle that someone would risk a financial investment on someone like me.
We need to ask for God’s wisdom in helping jump start new careers. We need to ask God where to sow our resources for the most successful return. It is never wise to throw money at problems. It is like putting money in bags with holes in them. We are called to be good stewards as we sow. Ecclesiastes 10:10 records, Wisdom brings success.
Thank you for helping us to find those who are broken, yet teachable. As God gave each of us opportunity early on and we proved ourselves faithful, may we find those who are worthy to invest in. Galatians 6:10 says, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Through it all God will be glorified and His Kingdom will expand.
Learning the principles of gaining and preserving success is as much a part of the recovery program as learning about the substances we abuse.