The dangers of success (part 1)

(This sermon is part of a series on the book of Daniel)

Before receiving blessings, one must first pass tests. God tests individuals with stress before entrusting them with success, as illustrated in Luke 16:10-12.
There were several tests in Daniel’s life, including enduring major changes, resisting peer pressure, defending beliefs, facing impossible tasks, and enduring suffering. However, the test of success can be more challenging than suffering because success often leads people to forget God.
King Nebuchadnezzar serves as a biblical example of how success can lead to pride and downfall. Despite achieving immense power—building the Babylonian Empire and the Hanging Gardens—his arrogance led to his downfall. In Daniel 4, he has a disturbing dream that Daniel interprets as a warning from God. Daniel urges the king to humble himself and honor God, but Nebuchadnezzar ignores the warning. As a result, he loses his kingdom and his sanity, living like an animal until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
Success can lead to trouble in three ways: (1) it makes people complacent, (2) it fosters pride, and (3) it blinds them to warning signs. Signs of spiritual danger include conflicts, chaos, lack of moral clarity, exhaustion, and temptation. Success is a test, and passing it requires humility and dependence on God.