Achievement

Human beings can achieve many things, though any achievement which disregards God is futile. God always achieves what he intends. Anything of eternal value needs God-given resources.

Kinds of human achievement

Accumulation of wealth

Esther 1:4 See also 1 Kings 10:23 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Kings 10:26–27 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:27; Job 42:12; Ecclesiastes 2:4–9

And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

Political power

Genesis 41:41–43 See also 1 Kings 4:21 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:26; Esther 1:1, Esther 10:2–3; Daniel 2:37–38, Daniel 2:48

Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Limitations of human achievements

Human achievements can lead to pride

Isaiah 10:12–15 See also Deuteronomy 8:10–18; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Daniel 4:29–30

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’” Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!

Human achievements can give false security

Luke 12:16–20 See also 2 Kings 19:11–13 parallel Isaiah 37:11–13; 2 Kings 19:21–28 parallel Isaiah 37:21–29; Jeremiah 48:7; 1 Timothy 6:17; Revelation 18:7–8

Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Human achievements are ultimately futile

Ecclesiastes 2:11 See also Psalm 39:6; Ecclesiastes 2:17–23; Isaiah 40:6; Habakkuk 2:13

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Human achievements do not lead to justification

Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 2:15–16, Galatians 2:21

God can thwart human achievements

Genesis 11:1–9 God will overthrow all human achievement that is in opposition to him. See also Job 5:12; Psalm 33:10; Isaiah 13:19; Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16–19

God's achievements

God's purposes are always accomplished

Isaiah 46:10 See also Job 42:2; Isaiah 14:24, Isaiah 55:10–11; Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24

I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Creation as God's achievement

Psalm 104:24 See also Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:31; Psalm 104:2–23; Isaiah 40:25–26

How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.

Salvation as God's achievement

Hebrews 7:25 See also John 17:4, John 19:28, John 19:30; Acts 4:12; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 12:2

Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

Spiritual resources for human achievements

Achieving things with God's help

Psalm 127:1 See also 2 Samuel 22:30 parallel Psalm 18:29; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Zechariah 4:6–9; John 15:5; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:18–19; 1 Corinthians 3:6; Philippians 2:13, Philippians 4:13

A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.

Achieving things by faith

Mark 9:23 See also Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21 parallel Mark 11:22–23; Luke 17:6

“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”

Achieving things through prayer

John 14:13–14 See also 1 Samuel 1:27; James 5:16–18

And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Achievements out of trials and sorrows

2 Corinthians 4:17 See also Romans 5:3–4; 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; James 1:2–4

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

Achieving things with the help of fellow believers

Galatians 6:2 See also Acts 2:42–45, Acts 4:32–37, Acts 5:12–16; Philippians 4:13–14, Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 10:24–25

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.