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Teachability = The desire and willingness to learn something new AND to relearn what you think you already know\\xa0

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Proverbs 9:9 (NIV)

Message Title: \\u201cThe DANGER of Success and the BEAUTY of Failure\\u201d

He holds success in store for the upright... Proverbs 2:7 (NIV)

King Solomon was greater in riches\\xa0and wisdom\\xa0than all the other kings of the earth.\\xa0 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom\\xa0God had put in his heart. 1 Kings 10:23-24 (NIV)

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;\\xa0I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Ecclesiastes 2:10-17 (NIV)\\xa0

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;\\xa0nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-17 (NIV)

Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly\\u2026. I saw that wisdom\\xa0is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness\\u2026 but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. Ecclesiastes 2:10-17 (NIV)\\xa0

Then I said to myself, \\u201cThe fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?\\u201d I said to myself, \\u201cThis too is meaningless.\\u201d For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die! Ecclesiastes 2:10-17 (NIV)

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:10-17 (NIV)

As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods,\\xa0and his heart was not fully devoted\\xa0to the\\xa0Lord\\xa0his God, as the heart of David his father had been\\u2026\\xa01 Kings 11:4-11 (NIV)

The\\xa0Lord\\xa0became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the\\xa0Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared\\xa0to him twice.\\xa0 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods,\\xa0Solomon did not keep the\\xa0Lord\\u2019s command.\\xa01 Kings 11:4-11 (NIV)

So the\\xa0Lord\\xa0said to Solomon, \\u201cSince this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees,\\xa0which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear\\xa0the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 1 Kings 11:4-11 (NIV)

Teachability is wisdom in attitude form.

The danger of success is that it creates comfort, which can breed pride and kill teachability in our lives.

The greatest threat of future success is current success. \\u2013 Pastor Craig Groeschel

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God\\xa0and keep his commandments,\\xa0for this is the duty of all mankind. \\xa0For God will bring every deed into judgment,\\xa0including every hidden thing,\\xa0whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 (NIV)

The fear of the\\xa0Lord\\xa0is the beginning of knowledge, but fools\\xa0despise wisdom\\xa0and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)

Most of my life\\u2019s greatest lessons came cloaked in the disguise of my failures.

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in\\xa0time of\\xa0disaster\\xa0and\\xa0collapse. Proverbs 24:16 (AMP)

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. \\xa0Surely I was sinful\\xa0at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. \\xa0Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom\\xa0in that secret place\\u2026 Psalm 51:4-17 (NIV)

Create in me a pure heart,\\xa0O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. \\xa0Do not cast me\\xa0from your presence\\xa0or take your Holy Spirit\\xa0from me. \\xa0Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,\\xa0to sustain me. Psalm 51:4-17 (NIV)

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners\\xa0will turn back to you\\u2026 Psalm 51:4-17 (NIV)

You do not delight in sacrifice,\\xa0or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.\\xa0 My sacrifice,\\xa0O God, is\\xa0a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart\\xa0you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:4-17 (NIV)

The beauty of failure is that it holds lessons and shifts our perspective like nothing can.\\xa0

We have to maintain an appropriate view of success and failure.\\xa0

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,\\xa0whether living in plenty or in want.\\xa0 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

Success is not final, and failure is not fatal.

We have to embrace discomfort.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,\\xa0whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-5 (NIV)

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.\\xa0James 1:2-5 (NIV)\\xa0

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,\\xa0who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:2-5 (NIV)\\xa0

Our SUCCESS in this life is not a result of our earthly achievement, but our spiritual perseverance.\\xa0

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 19:20 (NIV)

We have to commit to staying hungry AND humble.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves\\xa0to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility\\xa0toward one another, because, \\u201cGod opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.\\u201d 1 Peter 5:5-10 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God\\u2019s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.\\xa0 Cast all your anxiety on him\\xa0because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-10 (NIV)

Be alert and of sober mind.\\xa0Your enemy the devil prowls around\\xa0like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.\\xa0 Resist him,\\xa0standing firm in the faith,\\xa0because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:5-10 (NIV)\\xa0

And the God of all grace, who called you\\xa0to his eternal glory\\xa0in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,\\xa0will himself restore you and make you strong,\\xa0firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:5-10 (NIV)