Today, we get to learn about “success” from the mind of Jesus.
But first let’s look at what the world says success is. Worldly success is defined as the building up of earthly things - where assets and money, and popularity and fame are attached to the outcome of a person’s undertaking. According to the world, a person’s value is based on what they can attain through hard work, determination and selfish ambition; and their net worth is based on what they have accumulated. Which explains why they hold on tight to the things they have accomplished - often characterized in the heart of the proud. Their worth is built on being a public favorite; They often see themselves as “blessed and highly favored.” The more they are admired and “sought after,” the more elevated the thoughts and feelings are attached to their self-image. The proud like to extend their arms to possess what they can. They quickly move from small busy-ness to overburdened by a conglomeration. And contentment is replaced by the need to have more. You will know when persons are driven by worldly success when you see them spouting words like, “We are the best.” Self-satisfied talk about their own achievements, are typically void of giving praise to God. They will often boast about the results of their hard work, through material things like houses, trucks, cars and boats; land possession and luxurious vacations. But the Lord says, “Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust will destroy all of it, But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, nor do thieves break in or steal." “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Is our worth in ourselves or in the blood of Jesus? This is a question that should be on all of our hearts, for the Lord gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud. So do not worry about building up all that will be lost. And for God’s sake – stop losing sleep over it! It’s not that money is totally bad, in fact it can be very useful for helping the poor; but if money has more worth than trusting God, then you just may be out of balance. If you are fortunate to be considered, "the lost one," God will leave the rest to chase you down for your own good. And He may ask you to leave all that you hold, because He knows what is best and does not want you to be controlled. If God is not the center of all that you do, then there may something else that is holding onto you. The Lord knows our heart better than we do! For the heart is deceitful and can lead us to greed, even when we don't want it to. Be careful not to put too much value in what is on loan to you. The Lord says we must choose what Master we want to serve, will it be worldly success or will it be Him?
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