Wired for Success or Programmed for Failure

By design, all of God's creation is wired for success but circumstances, challenges or curses may re-programme even Christians for failure. Let's look at the lives of Bible people; all wired for success but some failed and others succeeded.

Bible People Who Failed 

5.     Samson

He was born wired for success. Clear divination, clarity of direction with a matching determination as he grew in grace. But he was not disciplined. Did he succeed? NO! His destiny was truncated due to lack of discipline. He died on the road called to success. One lesson that is apparent is that you can be wired for success and still programme yourself for failure. By not being disciplined, Solomon reprogrammed himself for failure. 

6.     Eve

The mother of creation! Wired for success but what became of her, lust of the eyes. She desired what she was told she couldn’t have. What has God clearly asked you to stay clear of but that is the very thing you want, you are reprogramming yourself for big time failure. Beware!

7.     Reuben

Genesis 49:3 started beautifully, “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power…” How I wish it ended there, we would have used this verse to establish the role destiny and divine positioning plays in being wired for success. But it did not end there. In verse 4 we read, “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.” Though you are wired to be the strength of your father, Reuben, you shall not excel! What a sad proclamation by a father to a son. Culturally the firstborn has the best of inheritance and except in few instances where God deliberately chose the younger child, firstborns are positioned to lead. What led to his failure, indiscipline! He was not only into women; he made the error of choosing his father’s woman!

8.     Miriam

The daughter of God-fearing parents and Moses’ sister. Destiny positioned her for success such that she was the vessel that drove Moses into the royal adoption by the king’s daughter. Yet she questioned God and his decision to make Moses the redeemer. She like many of you may have been single yet she was called into the service of God as the first human to lead group worship in the Bible and was called into the office of a prophetess. At the Red Sea, we see Miriam standing out so prominently, proclaiming and singing the power and faithfulness of God. She, it was, who led the Israelite women in dancing and instrumental accompaniment as she sang the ode of praise and victory to God. But this woman who was a national leader in Israel failed because of personal jealousy, discontentment and the fear of losing grip as a leader, which made the name Miriam, bitterness, come true. Her case is a bitter one of being wired for success by destiny but programmed for failure by design! She died of a broken heart.

Bible People Who Succeeded

1.     Abigail

It would seem she was programmed for failure with a marriage to a foolish man but she must have been a wise woman who never forgot the fact that her success should not be affected by her earthly circumstance but can be strengthened by how she positions herself. Abigail tapped into her divine wiring to position herself for success.

2.     Samuel

Imagine the situation he found himself. Please as I am sharing these stories locate yourself in the relevant ones and begin to mentally picture how you can use these stories to turn around your own situation. Samuel was born by comfortable or rich parents. How do I know? The father had more than one wife. They went on annual pilgrimage which is today like going to Jerusalem or going on vacation annually, you have to be rich to do that plus he went with his entire family and they do lunch which means they hired an inn or something… Yet Samuel’s parents sent him to live with a prophet whose income is determined by what he is given. Priests and prophets in those days have no secular jobs unlike pastors today, they cannot earn any income, they are not permitted to even own lands just so they are not distracted; they live on the benevolence of or hand out from worshippers. To make matters worse, Eli’s children were ungodly so it was easy for Samuel to say, I can’t succeed because of my circumstance but did Samuel succeeded. Yes! Samuel is the only patriarch who had one wife and succeeded tremendously. Today, he is ranked as the greatest prophet that ever lived. He would have made mistakes along the way but he ALWAYS deferred to God. He never allowed a bloated ego of self or lack of discipline to ruin his wiring for success.

3.     Esther

A nobody orphan girl adopted by an older cousin. This cousin however set her on a path of destiny by taking her into his home and raising her as his own child. He taught her the fear of God, respect for authority and understanding of God’s will which positioned her to receive the innate blessing of beauty that surpassed that of other females. After making it into the palace as First Lady, it was so easy for her to gbagbe ile, that is forget her background and forget Mordecai her guardian and mentor. Many people fail today because they undermine their divine helpers. She could have sent word back to Mordecai, Ko jo! I am now the king’s wife so please don’t give me orders. I am now the VP’s wife so respect your self. Instead she went into prayer, fasting and committed herself in faith to act in line with God’s will and divine directions despite the capital risk involved. Esther did not let the dainties in the palace ruin her success.

4.     Cornelius

Cornelius’ character as a soldier who is ethical and has noble influence among Jews is unprecedented. Moreover, the centurion was a force in his family and he led them in spiritual values. Though not a lot is written about this man who attained success as a commander of a century in the ancient Roman army, he is depicted in the New Testament as a God-fearing man whose life is characterised by reverence, worship and devotion to God. He prayed consistently and was well known for being generous to the poor. His salvation came as an icing on the cake of his success as we know, it is more difficult for a rich person to attain salvation. Yet, God specifically, arranged Cornelius’ salvation via a vision instructing him to send the men of his household to Joppa where they will find Simon Peter who had earlier been instructed via a separate vision to share salvation with him. This divine experience embeds Cornelius’ name in history as the first gentile convert, who opened the door of faith to other gentiles.

Dr. Omolola Omoteso-Famuyiwa is a minister who is passionate about sharing God's Word for the healing of souls.