It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. – (2 Samuel 11: 1)

You would think that the most difficult and dangerous dimension of success would be found in the process of attaining it. However, life continues to suggest that success itself offers its own adversity. In fact, the challenge of success can be greater in arriving at it than in striving for it.

This impression is born out in the debacle between David and Bathsheba. David became famous for the process by which he became king. Yet, he became infamous for what he did after he had become king. Watch these aspects of the adverse side of success which we see in this story.

It all began with idleness. The whole thing happened at a time of the year when normally David would have been at war. This time, simply because he didn’t have to go, he chose to stay home. This left him idle. Then, because he was idle, he did not work hard enough during the day to make him tired. Therefore, he dealt with restlessness. Late at night, in the midst of his restlessness, he sought something to entertain him and occupy him. Here, is where he was overcome by lustfulness.

As a powerful and successful king, he felt entitled to whatever his heart desired, so it was not long before he got involved in lawlessness. In one felled swoop, he broke the commandments of adultery, murder and coveting as if none of them applied to him. When he was confronted and convicted by the prophet Nathan, David finally came to a consciousness of his trespass when he said: “My sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51: 3)

Thankfully, though, after his consciousness, he found forgiveness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking success. However, let us be vigilant even in success because dangers lurk there as well.