When Success Starts Changing You: Lessons From King Saul
Updated: 1 day ago
Have you ever prayed for something, only to discover that receiving it introduced an entirely new set of challenges?
Maybe you prayed for a promotion. Then you received it and suddenly found yourself carrying more responsibility than ever before.
Perhaps you started a business. In the beginning, you were simply grateful for every customer. But as the business grew, you became increasingly concerned about profitability, reputation, and maintaining what you had built.
Or maybe you've experienced success in ministry, leadership, or your personal life.
People began noticing you. Listening to you. Looking to you.
At first, it felt exciting.
But somewhere along the way, something quietly began to change.
You found yourself thinking more about people's expectations than about what God desired.
Success can be a wonderful gift. But it can also become a subtle test.
Saul Wasn't Always the Leader We Remember
When we think about King Saul, we often remember his later failures.
But the beginning of Saul's leadership reveals another side of his character.
In 1 Samuel 10:27, some men openly questioned his ability to lead Israel.
"How can this man save us?" they asked.
They despised him and refused to bring him gifts.
Yet Scripture tells us that Saul remained silent.
He didn't immediately retaliate against his critics or attempt to force everyone to respect him.
There's an important lesson in that response.
Not every criticism deserves an answer.
Sometimes wisdom requires us to remain quiet and entrust our reputation to God.
Remembering Who Gave the Victory
Before long, Saul faced a significant leadership challenge.
Jabesh-Gilead was threatened by the Ammonites, and its people were terrified.
When Saul heard what was happening, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him.
Saul gathered Israel, led the people into battle, and God gave them victory.
The people celebrated.
Some even wanted to execute the men who had previously questioned Saul's leadership.
But Saul refused.
In 1 Samuel 11:13, he declared:
"For today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel."
Notice where Saul placed the credit.
He didn't make the victory primarily about his own abilities or authority.
He acknowledged what God had done.
It's one of the significant moments in Saul's early leadership, and it raises an important question for us today.
When success comes, do we remember where it came from?
The Quiet Test of Success
Success can change the way we think if we're not careful.
What begins as gratitude can slowly become self-confidence that no longer recognizes its source.
What begins as dependence on God can gradually become dependence on ourselves.
We may start believing that our opportunities, influence, and achievements are entirely the result of our own strength.
Yet Jesus reminds us in John 15:5:
"Apart from me you can do nothing."
Those words are just as important after success as they are before it.
Sometimes we think we need God most when we're struggling.
But we need Him when our businesses are growing, our careers are advancing, our families are doing well, and our ministries are fruitful.
Success does not eliminate our need for God.
Every Good Gift Has a Source
James 1:17 reminds us:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..."
Consider what that includes.
Our abilities.
Our opportunities.
The people who support us.
The doors that open.
The resources entrusted to us.
The influence we gain.
These are all reasons for gratitude.
When we recognize success as something entrusted to us rather than something that makes us superior to others, it can help us remain humble and teachable.
Jesus Demonstrated Complete Dependence
No one exercised influence in quite the way Jesus did.
Crowds followed Him. People witnessed His miracles and listened to His teaching.
Yet Jesus continually pointed to His relationship with the Father.
In John 5:19, He explained that the Son does what He sees the Father doing.
His example challenges the assumption that greater influence should produce greater independence.
If Jesus demonstrated dependence upon the Father, how much more should we recognize our need for God?
Don't Forget the One Who Opened the Door
Perhaps you're currently experiencing a season of growth.
Your business is doing well.
Your professional opportunities are expanding.
Your family is thriving.
Your ministry is bearing fruit.
Celebrate those blessings.
Give thanks for every opportunity.
But don't allow success to quietly replace your dependence on God.
The same God who opened the door is the One who will sustain you as you walk through it.
Stay humble.
Stay grateful.
Stay teachable.
As Pastor Bank reminds us in this teaching:
"Success is safest in the hands of someone who never forgets where it came from."
A Question for Reflection
Has your success drawn you closer to God, or has it quietly tempted you to depend more on yourself than on Him?
Watch the full teaching, Walking With Saul, Episode 2, on the T3 Workplace Ministry YouTube channel.
Explore more biblical wisdom for work, leadership, and everyday life at:
Comments