When Success Is Achieved

Introduction: How a person defines success and how they respond to success reveals much about their character. 

A King’s Prelude  (Daniel 4:1-3)

A King’s Preoccupation

• The Impression of the Dream (Daniel 4:4-5)

• The Information of the Dream (Daniel 4:6-17)

• The Interpretation of the Dream (Daniel 4:18-27) (Proverbs 11:2) (Proverbs 29:23)

A King’s Pride  (Daniel 4:28-30)

• Focus of His Success—to impress others

• Motivation of His Success—to invest in self

• Standard of His Success—to be in competition with others

“I observe that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this too is meaningless. It’s like a chasing of the wind.”  (Ecclesiastes 4:4--paraphrased)

• Power of His Success—to depend on self

• Purpose of His Success—to glorify self

A King’s Penalty  (Daniel 4:31-33) (Matthew 23:12)

A King’s Praise  (Daniel 4:34-37)  (Psalm 121:1)

• Purpose of His Success—to glorify God

• Power of His Success—to depend on God

• Standard of His Success—to be faithful to God

• Motivation of His Success—to invest in others

• Focus of His Success—to please God

Application: A person who walks by faith with God, realizes that their successes are not their own. As was the case with Daniel, many times others will take notice of their faith and acknowledge the God of their success. (Daniel 5:13-14)