Wednesday: Character Matters More Than Success

Reading: 2 Kings 8:7-15 “Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels’ loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. And Hazael said, “Why does my Lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.”

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””

Devotional: Hazael appeared humble, calling himself "a mere dog," yet murdered his way to power. For forty years he ruled successfully by worldly standards, but his legacy was cruelty and wickedness. Earthly success without godly character is eternal failure. God sees beyond our public personas into the depths of our hearts. You might fool those closest to you, but the Lord knows your true motives.

Reflection: Are you pursuing position over purity? Ambition over integrity? Success built on compromise crumbles eventually. The world celebrates achievement regardless of character, but God measures differently.

Response: Your character in private determines your true legacy. Build your life on honesty, humility, and holiness—not just outward success. What God blesses lasts forever.

Song of the Day: I See You - Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake - Lyric Video