True Success in the Eyes of God

Focus: “As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?”

(1 Kings 22:39).

He was highly successful as a politician, making trade deals that boosted the economy. After years of war, he oversaw two decades of peace. He boosted the defense budget for his nation, building a huge army. He built cities. His wife was sophisticated, coming from a culture of poets and writers—her nation gave the world the alphabet. And he was rich, with an opulent house crammed with luxury goods. We know he built a palace adorned with ivory; although there’s some speculation about the integrity of the find, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a home in the area where he lived. Every wall was breathtaking, paneled from floor to ceiling with intricately carved ivory; figures of lions, griffins, and sphinxes stared down. The place overflowed with the trappings of royalty. Even the bed ends, tabletops and chair backs were ivory-clad.

And for all this, Ahab was judged as being one of the worst kings in Israel’s entire history, a man who deeply angered the Lord.

It’s a theme that we’ll return to later, but one that’s worth underlining: true success in the eyes of God is not measured in terms of financial gain, business acumen, or fame. The suave and sophisticated don’t impress Him. Rather, it’s integrity and faithfulness that catch His eye and warm His heart.

As we’ll see in tomorrow’s Bible notes, Ahab did some good things. But he was inconsistent and too easily swayed by the occultic obsessions of his wife, Jezebel, who was a passionate advocate of all things to do with Baal.

Let’s pursue true success.

Pray: May my life reflect Your values, Lord, rather than superficial values of success. Amen.