The Snares of Success

Scripture: Proverbs 22:5

The Snares of Success: Part I

Recently, I interviewed Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, about the snares of success. Anne was an 8th grade educated stay-at-home Amish mom when she determined to help support her family by starting a pretzel business. 

From the humble beginnings of one farmer’s market store, Anne grew the business to over 900 stores around the world prior to selling the business. That kind of success can bring many temptations and snares along the way. 

Proverbs 22:5 teaches, “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; One who guards himself will be far from them.” 

This proverb is a reminder that we are all susceptible to the evil lurking in our flesh and the many challenges we can face in a perverse world. Recognizing the possibilities and guarding yourself against those snares is critical. 

The first step in guarding yourself is being aware of what snares might be ahead. Pausing occasionally to consider the ways the enemy might use to destroy you can be helpful. 

In this series we will address some of the temptations and snares you should guard against.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been swept up in the pride of your success? What was the end result? 
2. Consider others you have known or even celebrities who have stumbled due to their success? What were the contributing factors? 
3. How would you feel if the pride of your future success caused you to stumble? How might that fall impact your family and friends? 
4. What steps might you take to guard yourself from the snares of success?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18

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?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1

The Snares of Success: Part III

In this series we’re discussing some of the snares that can surface when a business leader begins experiencing success. One common snare is power. 

As business leaders grow in success, they also tend to grow in power, which can easily corrupt. 

Howard Weinstein had the power to create or destroy actresses. He abused his power to force many women to have sex with him in exchange for being famous. 

A thirst for power often turns people into oppressors and manipulators. 

Ecclesiastes 4:1 teaches, “And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.” 

King Solomon had observed the result of power crazed oppressors and how it dramatically impacted the oppressed. He knew power could be a treacherous quality. 

Power can be used generously, or it can be abused. Left alone, without others to hold you accountable, power can consume you and your character. Find an accountability partner to help you guard against becoming drunk with power.

Discussion Questions:

1. Think of someone you have seen who is thirsty for power. How have they treated others? 
2. How does it feel when you have felt oppressed by others who have some form of power over you? 
3. Who do you have in your life that you could ask to hold you accountable when you become obsessed with power?

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

The Snares of Success: Part IV

In this series we’re discussing some of the snares that can surface when a business leader begins experiencing success. The snare I want to address today is privacy. 

Seeking privacy is important for time of reflection and rest, but some leaders who begin experiencing success take privacy to an extreme. Although isolation is sometimes important from a safety standpoint, many go into isolation for other reasons. 

Some go into isolation due to personal insecurities; others choose isolation due to their growing arrogance that they are better than others. 

Isolation is one of Satan’s favorite tools. 

1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

If you have ever watched shows that highlight lions hunting for gazelles, you will notice that the lions will find one of the weaker gazelles, then isolate them. The isolated gazelle is doomed. 

When you are isolated, you can be easily deceived about your own and your organization’s shortcomings. Privacy can be important, but when it gets to extreme isolation you run the risk of being destroyed by your success. 

Living in community and transparency is a better strategy. Find those people you can trust and give them permission to know you deeply and hold you accountable when necessary.

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you determine for yourself personally when privacy has drifted into unhealthy isolation? 
2. Have you ever isolated yourself for a season? Did it feel healthy or unhealthy? 
3. Do you have friends who you have shared with transparently about your life? How would you feel about giving them permission to challenge you and hold you accountable during your times of success?

Scripture: Proverbs 16:8

The Snares of Success: Part V

In this series we’re discussing some of the snares that can surface when a business leader begins experiencing success. The final snare I wish to discuss is pride. 

When I was in banking, I watched several companies begin to experience rapid success, often leading to newspaper articles and favorable press. The CEO’s pride often led them to pursue more and more press. 

When I saw multiple articles about a customer, I would visit the customer to assure their business wasn’t crashing. The pursuit of prideful accolades often led to ignoring the day-to-day operations, which sometimes resulted in failure. 

Proverbs 16:8 teaches, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” 

Pride is when you begin to believe your own press. When you think that you are better or wiser than those around you, pride has already begun your road to destruction. You were made in God’s image, not Him in yours. 

When success comes your way, remember God is the provider of success, not you. Pride has destroyed many businesses. Don’t let it take you or your organization down.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe the qualities you have seen in others who are prideful. Are those qualities appealing? 
2. How have you felt when you have received lots of accolades or notoriety? Do you feel you have learned to handle it humbly or is there a point where pride can become your enemy? 
3. Prayerfully consider some steps you might take to assure pride doesn’t get out of control.