There was once a man who wanted to climb higher than anyone else.
One day, a stranger approached him and said,
“I can help you rise. I know the shortcuts. I know who to step on and who to avoid.”
The stranger offered him a ladder—
not made of wood or steel,
but made of people.
Each rung was someone useful:
a friend who opened doors,
a supporter who defended him,
a follower who did his dirty work.
The man hesitated at first.
But the climb was fast.
And the view improved with every step.
As he climbed, the stranger encouraged him:
“Use them. That’s what they’re there for.”
“They knew the risks.”
“This is how power works.”
When people were exhausted, the stranger said,
“Replace them.”
When they questioned him, the stranger said,
“Silence them.”
When they fell, the stranger said nothing at all.
And the man climbed higher.
Eventually, he reached the top.
The crowd below was smaller now.
The ladder thinner.
The air colder.
He turned to thank the stranger—
but the stranger was gone.
Suddenly, the ladder shook.
The very people he had used to climb
were now blamed for his failures.
The same voices that once praised him
now turned against him.
And when he reached for help,
no one was there.
The ladder that lifted him
collapsed beneath him.
As he fell, one truth became painfully clear:
The one who promised him power
never cared about him—
only about how far he could be used.
And those who climb on backs instead of truth
will eventually find themselves standing alone.
❓Reflection
- Who am I listening to as I climb?
- Am I valuing people—or using them?
- If the ladder disappears, what will remain of me?
A Prayer for Discernment and Restoration
Father God,
You see every voice that speaks to us
and every path that is placed before us.
We confess how easy it is to listen to promises of quick gain,
easy power,
and shortcuts that cost others what we are unwilling to lose ourselves.
Forgive us for the times we have used people
instead of loving them,
climbed at the expense of others
instead of walking in truth.
Open our eyes, Lord,
to recognize voices that flatter but do not care,
that promise loyalty but disappear when the cost arrives.
Protect us from becoming tools of deception—
and from allowing ourselves to be used by it.
Where we have been used, discarded, or blamed,
bring healing.
Where we have hardened our hearts to survive,
bring softness again.
Teach us to build our lives on truth,
not on people as rungs,
not on manipulation or fear,
but on integrity that does not collapse.
Give us the courage to step off ladders
that are not from You,
even if it means starting again at the bottom.
Restore what has been damaged by ambition.
Redeem what has been twisted by deceit.
Anchor us in Your love,
where we are valued not for our usefulness,
but for who we are.
We choose Your way—
slow, honest, and faithful—
over paths that rise quickly and fall violently.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Scripture References for Further Reading
(Deception, Exploitation, and Discernment — from the Holy Bible)
Satan Uses and Destroys
- John 10:10
- 1 Peter 5:8
- John 8:44
False Promises & Deception
- Genesis 3:1–5
- 2 Corinthians 11:14
- Proverbs 14:12
Being Used, Then Abandoned
- Psalm 55:12–14
- Obadiah 1:7
- Luke 22:3–6
The End of Wicked Alliances
- Proverbs 13:20
- Psalm 37:9–10
- Isaiah 47:13–15
God’s Protection & Discernment
- James 1:5
- Ephesians 6:11–12
- Proverbs 3:5–6
✨ Closing Line
Not every ladder leads upward.
Some are built to collapse once they’ve been climbed.