SeedTime Money (Christian living & Personal Finances)

The #1 thing destroying wealthy/successful Christians (w/ John Bevere)

Sep 13, 2025

Join John Bevere, a renowned Christian author and co-founder of Messenger International, as he explores the dangerous interplay of pride and success among Christians. He warns that pride often masquerades as spiritual maturity, leading to spiritual blindness. Discover why the downfall of King Uzziah still resonates today and how Apostle Paul's growth in humility can inspire a true reflection on wealth and success. With personal anecdotes and practical defenses against pride, this conversation encourages a heartfelt pursuit of humility.

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INSIGHT

Pride And Religion Hide Each Other

Pride and religious behavior can strengthen each other by hiding the heart's true condition.
John Bevere warns that visible spirituality can mask deep pride and produce destructive outcomes.

ANECDOTE

Uzziah's Fall From Success To Leprosy

King Uzziah enjoyed massive success for decades until pride led him to enter the temple unlawfully.
His prideful act resulted in leprosy and public disgrace, illustrating how success can blind leaders.

INSIGHT

Paul's Humility Deepened With Success

Paul grew in genuine humility as his ministry advanced, moving from 'least of the apostles' to 'chief of sinners.'
Bevere uses Paul's writings to show humility deepens despite—and because of—growing influence.

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Pride is sneaky.

It hides behind our success. It masks itself as “spiritual maturity.” It even whispers, “Look at how humble you are.”

And if we’re not careful, pride will be the very thing that takes us out.

In this episode, Linda and I unpack a conversation with John Bevere that completely reframed how I see wealth, success, and following Jesus. We dive into the #1 thing that’s quietly destroying successful Christians — and why humility isn’t just a virtue, it’s survival.

Here’s what we cover:

Why King Uzziah’s downfall in the Old Testament still matters for every Christian leader today.
How pride and religion work together to blind us spiritually.
The surprising way the Apostle Paul grew more humble the more successful he became.
My personal story of making more money than ever in 2015 — and how pride almost derailed me.
3 red flags that tell you success might be leading you away from God instead of toward Him.
The one prayer I now pray regularly to keep my heart in check as we pursue wealth for kingdom impact.

If you’ve ever asked yourself: How do I grow in success without letting pride creep in? …this episode will shake you up in the best way possible.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

John Bevere – Author, speaker, co-founder of Messenger International → http://messengerinternational.org
Conversation with Lecrae + John Bevere (referenced in this episode) → https://www.youtube.com/@johnbevere
The Bible – Isaiah 6, 2 Chronicles 26, Philippians 2–3, Matthew 5:16
Andy Stanley’s "Communicating for a Change" (referenced framework for clarity) → https://amzn.to/3BzOLgS
Quote: “You can’t serve God and money. But you can serve God with money.”
Bob’s teaching on Mission-Driven Millionaires → https://seedtime.com

👉Whether you’re already leading at a high level or just beginning your wealth-building journey, this episode is a sober reminder: success without humility is a setup for destruction.

Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/5QB0l85R-CE)!

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