How to Properly Measure Success as a Christian

How to Make Healthy Choices: Protein

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For as many times as the bible warns against immorality and wickedness, there are at least as many warnings against the evils of success. The very first mistake of mankind, which was the temptation in the garden, happened not because of intimidation or insecurity or fear — but rather desire and pride. The apostle John reflects on this in his first letter when he says:

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

1 John 2:16

The apostle James also says that envy and selfish ambition are the root of “every vile practice” in James 3:16, and Jesus spoke several times on the dangers of money corrupting the heart. This is because money provides a false sense of certainty, which is a fundamental human need and which only God can truly provide. It is for this reason that being wealthy is an obstacle to entering the kingdom of heaven, which means being born again, because when we are wealthy and successful we forget about God and forget about our need to be saved from a dying world.

Truly even in the Old Testament we see a consistent pattern of God reminding the Israelites to not take credit for their success so their hearts do not become corrupt. In Deuteronomy 8:11-18 God famously warns the Israelites ahead of their conquest of the promised land, saying the following: