The Snares of SuccessSample

The Snares of Success: Part II

In this series we’re discussing some of the snares that can surface when a business leader begins experiencing success. The first snare that often comes is praise.

When Anne Beiler began growing Auntie Anne Pretzels, people started praising her for her success. But Anne kept thinking, “I’m not brilliant; I’m an 8th grade educated Amish stay-at-home mom.”

But eventually, Anne admits that at times she started to believe the praise, deceiving herself that it was her brilliance, rather than God’s grace. The praise of others is very alluring. It can quickly and quietly blind us to the truth.

1 Corinthians 3:18 teaches, “Take care that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”

The Apostle Paul knew that when we become convinced that we are wise, we are on a slippery slope. Praise is one of the ways the enemy convinces us that we are wiser than those around us. At that moment, we are at the risk of our success coming to a close.

If your successes bring praise, avoid deceiving yourself by remembering that your success only came from God’s grace.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you feel when you receive praise? What happens to you when the praises get heaped upon you multiple times? Have the praises ever convinced you that you are wiser than those around you?
2. Praise is often given by people with ulterior motives. How effective have you been in the past at discerning false praise?
3. If pride begins to swell within you during your successes and heavy praise, what prayer might you pray to better ground you?