Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5776 achievement

5776 achievement

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5776 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

Political power

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

Buildings

1 Kings 7:1-12; Daniel 4:30; Mark 13:1

Great learning

1 Kings 4:32-34; Ecclesiastes 1:13-16; Daniel 1:17

Military victory

Genesis 14:14-16; Exodus 17:8-13; Joshua 8:24-26; Judges 4:14-16; 1 Samuel 18:7; 2 Samuel 22:35-43 pp Psalm 18:34-42

Acts of courage

1 Samuel 14:6-14; Samuel 17:50; 2 Samuel 23:8-21 pp 1 Chronicles 11:11-23

Spiritual achievements

Romans 15:19 See also Luke 10:17; John 14:12; Acts 14:3; Acts 20:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:1-3; 1 John 2:13-14; Revelation 2:19

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

Human achievements can give false security

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

Human achievements are ultimately futile

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

Human achievements do not lead to justification

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

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 18:10,16-19

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

Creation as God's achievement

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

Salvation as God's achievement

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

Spiritual resources for human achievements

Achieving things with God's help

Psalm 127:1 See also 2 Samuel 22:30 pp 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

Achieving things by faith

Achieving things through prayer

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

Achievements out of trials and sorrows

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

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 4:13-14,18; Hebrews 10:24-25