Success. I had difficulty writing this because of how often I talk about it. I talk about the grip it had on my life, how the recognition of my failures led me to Jesus, and how even as a Christian the lure of success still lingers. It seems like I should be done dealing with this topic.

But no. Recently I’ve learned that success has a lot to do with where one takes refuge. Many find their safety in their success. Whether they define success as career, finances, popularity, family, they trust and rely on these things for safety. Success, however one defines it, is what we trust – and hope – to bring contentment, joy, and peace.

In the Old Testament, “success” as a word is not used but readily seen. It definitely looked different back then (I mean I don’t personally know anyone who measures success by horses and cattle), but the same heart attitude remained. An individual who took refuge in his definition of success is Doeg as can be seen in Psalm 52.

Doeg’s Success

In order to understand Psalm 52, we actually need to go back further in the Bible to 1 Samuel 22. During this time, King Saul was trying to kill David because God had called to be the new king over Israel. He chased David to a place called Nob. Here Saul gathers his servants and demands they tell him (in almost what sounds like a whine to me) where David is (1 Samuel 22:7-8). The only one to speak up is Doeg, an Edomite. 

I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub [a priest], and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. (1 Samuel 22:9-10)

What he neglected to mention is that the priest had no idea Saul was looking for David (1 Samuel 21:1-3). To add on to this deception, when Saul then commands his guards to kill Ahimelech and his family, they refuse, but Doeg does not hesitate to kill them (1 Samuel 22:18). He would rather curry favor with King Saul than respect God’s chosen priest. He would rather gain success from pleasing the king than respect the authority of God or the One true King. 

When you read Psalm 52, it draws a connection between Doeg’s attempts at success and taking refuge.

Doeg is said to have taken refuge or trusted in two things: the abundance of his riches and his own destruction. What is interesting is that the verse makes Doeg’s refuge very personal. It is not Saul’s riches but Doeg’s own riches. In the Hebrew, the phrase “his own destruction” means having “an intense desire in a bad sense.” This seems to mean that Doeg trusted in his own ability to achieve his desired success, namely winning the good favor of the king (and all the benefits that come with that).

Today, most probably can’t relate to earning the favor of a king by ratting out people who helped the king’s enemy. But think how this could apply. It may look like trusting in your ability to work hard at your career and earn more than anyone you know. This may be relying on charm or wit to gain popularity. It may mean trusting your intellect to earn degrees to gain respect in your family. Whatever form it takes, this revolves around taking refuge in your own ability to earn whatever success you desire. It relys on you.

The examples I listed are more “worldly” or secular in nature. But what if I told you the same attitude can often be found in ministry?

A “Failure”

When I was a sophomore in college, I had a friend who was also trying to get into nursing school. This means we shared several classes together over a few semesters. With that, we grew close and I had a great chance to share the gospel with her. I prayed for weeks on an opportunity to do so, one where we weren’t sitting and listening to a lecture. Three or four different times we had planned (at my prompting) to get to class early or grab lunch all so I could strike up a gospel conversation with her. Every time something came up at the last minute. 

On my latest attempt, I was expressing my frustration to God about not having an opportunity to share. I mean didn’t He want me to share? That is what the Great Commission is about, and I was trying to do that. The semester was coming to an end, and we no longer had classes together. I was running out of time! As I was praying, I felt the Lord prompt me to give her a Gospel of John. 

Um, what God? Just give her a Bible?

What about my big gospel presentation I had lined up? What about my gentle but revealing line of spiritual questions? What about my ability to listen intently to express my care and love? I mean didn’t God know my plans to share with her?

Handing her a Bible wasn’t the perfect success story of pointing someone to Jesus that I would be able to share with my friends and family. It was not an opportunity for me to showcase all the work I had put into ensuring I could present the gospel well. The act involved putting all my trust in God to take care of it. It meant resting in God as my refuge, not my own ability. 

True Success

As Christians, we should have a heart for sharing the gospel or making disciples. It is a command (Matthew 28:19). We should have an intense desire for the gospel to go out to all nations. We should also be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Confidence and clarity in presenting how Jesus came, died, and rose again is vital.

But what if no one comes to the worship service? What if you only help lead one or two people to Christ? What if you don’t get to share the gospel with anyone because they keep avoiding or shutting you down? How would you respond? 

This reveals where we take refuge.

It is normal to grow frustrated when the numbers don’t happen, when we don’t bring in as many as we hoped, when we don’t meet our goals. But when frustration turns to outrage it may point to our refuge being in our own strength. We may be trusting in our own ability to share and do ministry. We may be relying on our riches and desires to achieve Christian success. 

Let’s read Psalm 52:5.

Umm that’s intense. Why would God seek to tear down one who takes refuge in their “success?” Because He knows it’s a grave.

Our efforts will never be enough. We can never love enough, share enough, serve enough, work enough. Our good efforts are like filthy rags compared to God’s glory (Isaiah 64:6). If we mess up in one respect, we have already fallen completely short of God’s perfection (James 2:10). It is arrogant and foolish to think anything else. To try to live up to perfect success is a grave. It ends only in disappointment, pain, and weariness. 

But it’s a good thing God calls the broken and weary (Matthew 11:28). True success to God is taking refuge in Him (Psalm 52:7). Our desires and own works lead to destruction because we are not perfect. God wants us in His refuge because that is the safest and best place for us. 

Now let’s read Psalm 52:8-9, which describes the person who takes refuge in God. 

Those who take refuge in God and His love will prosper. This is what our Father desires. He wants us to humble ourselves and trust in His steadfast love because there we find abundant life (John 10:10). 

I don’t know if my friend from school ever came to begin a relationship with Jesus. I didn’t get to see the end of that story. I didn’t get to know if my efforts ever produced the “success” I wanted. But I would argue I was still successful. Because success according to God’s standards looks like taking refuge in Him. It looks like running from the grave of “success” and surrendering to the loving arms of the Father. 

Resources:

• The Search for Significance by Robert McGee
• The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
• Matthew 11:28-30
• “God is Not Your Trophy” by Caitlyn P.

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