"To Thine Own Self Be True!" (Shakespeare)

Did you know that God is true to Himself?  His holiness assures no conflict of interest or will and that He abides by His own nature and is true to character or always acts in character.  The Hebrew words for true, faith, and faithfulness are all related and sometimes used interchangeably. For example, in Hab. 2:4, it says, "The just shall live by his faithfulness [or faith]."   In  Psalm 31:5 is says God is a God of truth [faithfulness].  We must not divorce faith and faithfulness in our conduct and lives for God surely doesn't and we must not divide what He has joined together.  Are you true to your word? and faithful to promises?  We must feed on His faithfulness! (cf. Psalm 37:3). 

Great is God's faithfulness toward us and this even applies when we are faithless. Even when we are wayward, He cannot deny Himself and go against His nature.  God's Word is faithful and is as sure as God Himself, He exalts above all things His name and His Word (cf. Psalm 138:2).  If God went back on His Word, He'd cease being God! Not one word of all His promise He have to Moses has failed (cf. 1 Kings 8:56). He is faithful to us and even believes in us! 

God can be seen as the great Promise Keeper who abounds in faithfulness. He exercises this by believing in us that we are justified though we sin (cf. Gal. 2:17). God's faithfulness can be seen in His discipline and correction when we go astray and even in our afflictions to show us the Way and even test our faith. He doesn't intend to punish us as our sins deserve but to sanctify us and make us more Christlike. He wants us to show faithfulness to Him and even in our calling: he that is faithful in little, shall be faithful in much!  As Mother Teresa said, "God doesn't call us to success but to faithfulness!" We will be rewarded by our works done in the Lord, not those done in the flesh or for wrong motives. 

You are true (faithful) to yourself when you fulfill your mission God gave you and judge yourself so God need not do it.  Also, when we confess our sins and keep short accounts (cf. 1 John 1:9) of them so we can walk in the light or in fellowship with the Spirit of Christ and also with other believers. God will not let sin slide and we should not grow lax on our attitude towards sin and show no tolerance.  We must not just dislike sins but denounce them and vow to live life with Jesus at the helm as Captain of our soul and Master of our fate.  We must keep our promises just like God is the Promise Keeper and value our integrity and not lie to one another, for it is impossible for God to do these things (cf. Heb. 6:18). 

Paul said that his aim is to "finish the race and complete the task God gave him" (cf. Acts 20:24). We don't want to leave behind half-built, derelict towers as unfinished business for our legacy when we die but to be assured we have done all God's will for us and complete the mission to say: "Mission accomplished!"   "See to it that you complete the ministry God gave you in the Lord," (cf. Col. 4:17).  Just like when King David had done all God's purpose, he died. (cf. Acts 13:36). We must realize as David did, that God's faithfulness surrounds Him and we can count on it as Jeremiah realized when he said, "Great is thy faithfulness," even while in captivity.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

No One Has To Be A Loser With God

God is on our side and we cannot lose with Him as our eternal Advocate "This I know:  God is for me" (cf. Psalm 56:9; 118:6).  God is with us through thick and thin (if He got us to it, He'll get us through it!); that means we are never alone! (cf. 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:10).  God believes in us--our situation is never hopeless!  We may give up hope, but there are no hopeless situations, only those who've given up (cf. Isa. 49:6; Jer. 29:11).   The trouble is that we often want our own way and don't realize that God knows what is best for us!  The only obstacle to God's best for us and His perfect will and plan is us--our will!  Sometimes, if we don't insist on God's will and God's way, He will just say to us, "OK, have it your way (but you'll be sorry and realize I was right!)."

Job often wondered if anyone could intercede for him in his predicament and trial (cf. Job 9:32-33); but as Christians, we should always be cognizant of the fact that God will never give up on us and neither should we (cf. Lev. 26:44). That's like giving up on God Himself, for all his promises have been proved true, not one has failed (cf. Josh. 23:14). The problem with many believers is ignorance per se--they are unaware of His promises and don't avail themselves of them (willful ignorance is never bliss nor an excuse!).

Jesus changed the dynamic of the Jewish culture by associating with known sinners, adulterers, outcasts, untouchables, lepers, and anyone else whom the Pharisees despised.  He was pushing their buttons all right and upsetting their religious apple cart!  Jesus simply wasn't the Messiah of conventional wisdom to deliver them from Roman rule, but one to deliver from sin--they wouldn't admit this was their problem!  Jesus was also given the title "friend of sinners" meant as an insult!  Where would we be if God never loved us while we were sinners and even enemies of the cross and gospel?  Jesus is always our friend but we are never His friend unless we obey Him.  Jesus is never ashamed of us and proud to call us brethren--we should likewise boldly witness for Him and never be ashamed to name the name of Jesus!

It is important to note that the Twelve were just ordinary men, even a ragtime bunch of misfits, unlikely candidates, and ragamuffins. Conventional wisdom would question this dubious band of brothers to accomplish God's will. But Jesus knew who they really were by the grace of God and saw their potential to be used for God's glory.  If Jesus were to be asked what would transpire if they failed, He would most likely retort:  "I have no other plan!"

And so we learn from Mark's gospel narrative and theme of Jesus as the Servant the following important lessons:  God never rejects us and can use rejects of society--call no one useless for whom Christ died and redeemed; Christ always will give us a second chance and we should never feel we blew it so bad we can never get back with the program and get our act together to serve God, for His gifts and calling are without repentance (cf. Rom. 11:29), but we must never forget that we are servants and stewards of the mysteries of God and our spiritual gifts; finally, God can accomplish much with losers who may not even have any self-confidence and think they are qualified for anything (Gideon said he was the least in his family, Moses had three excuses for not serving God and didn't think he was even qualified for such a noble task, and David was the least and youngest in his family and only a shepherd when anointed to be king of Israel by Samuel, and the LORD told him that man looks on the outward appearance, but He looks upon the heart  in 1 Sam. 16:7 ).

But we must never forget that God can never be frustrated or thwarted (cf. Job 42:2). He can make the unwilling willing to do His will and bidding (cf. Phil. 2:13; Col. 1:29; Psalm 110:3; Jer. 20:9).  God has no Plan B and will accomplish it despite our lack of cooperation.  We must get with the program but not just be converted to the program, but converted to Christ and knowing Him as well as sharing Him and making Him known!      Soli Deo Gloria!

The Measure Of Success

"...[F]or you have done for us all our works"  (Isaiah 26:12, ESV).

"... Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD of hosts" (Zech. 4:6, ESV).

We tend to see worldly success as a sign of God's approval, or even prosperity as a keynote of spirituality; however, only God can judge true success, because He knows how faithful we are; we are not called to success, but to faithfulness, in the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  God does promise to prosper us if we are in His will and doing what He calls us to do.  God does promise to prosper us, but not in human means when we set out to do something in the name of the Lord and God is in it--that's success!  Finding this calling.

We all have a work to do, and it will be worth it in the judgment to hear our Lord say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  Even Jesus said that He had completed the work that God had given Him to do.  He was primarily, a man on a mission extraordinaire, and this is not a bad model for us, once we feel led to serve the Lord.  As for me, there is no greater joy than to be used by God and to be engaged in His service.

It is important to realize that it is always God using us and working through us as His vessels to accomplish His will, and we get the privilege of being used by Him and receive the joy of serving Him--who can render to God what He deserves and payback to Him for His blessings?   Isaiah 26:12 says that all that we have accomplished God has wrought through us!  We are not to boast as Israel did in Amos 6:13, when God should be given credit, as recorded:  "[You] who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, 'Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?'"

Paul summed it up in Romans 15:18 (NIV) similarly:  "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me...." This is the faith that we leave our comfort zones in faith and do God's bidding and will and leave the results to Him--that means not comparing ourselves to each other per 2 Cor. 10:12, which is "unwise."

We are always in a win-win situation with God on our side as our autopilot and captain directing us. We must remember that God can turn evil into good and make the most out of every situation--look how He turned the humiliating crucifixion into glory!  It is always tempting for all of us to base our achievement on the visible results like measuring success by the numbers or monetary value when we should be seeing the work of God in us and miracles behind the scene.  We must admit that we cannot achieve great things for God of our own effort, we can only faithfully cooperate with Him in a Spirit of love and good deeds, which we are destined to do (cf. Eph. 2:10).

If God owns the results, they aren't ours to criticize or evaluate!  God is the one who called us and has a purpose for it--He designed the universe, how much more were our lives laid out according to Psalm 139:16.  What they often tell you is to try harder and maybe you'll get better results:  But the answer is in trusting more and leaving the results to God, or, as they say, let go and let God--we can do nothing apart from Him  (As John 15:5 says, "Apart from me you can do nothing...").  In our culture everything is results-oriented and if we don't see them immediately we think we're failures (many authors have only had their manuscripts published posthumously).  We are hard-wired for results and think that spiritual success is measured as if it were under the scientific method of measurement and observation--this is not so, we must trust God to work in us and believe Him for results, not others or especially ourselves, nor seeking man's praise, not God's alone.

It is said that you shouldn't strive to do what you enjoy, as much as learn to enjoy what you do; this is what is meant in Ecclesiastes when it says there is joy in our toil--we're hard-wired for work and a work ethic!  We are not made for idleness and boredom is unnatural and man needs purpose and fulfillment in life, that only God can accomplish.  it doesn't matter who sows or reaps, but that God gives the increase! The lesson to be heeded is to do everything in the name of the Lord, to the glory of the Lord, and that we "get" to serve God, who also will reward us for being used!  Follow your passion in your vocation, but be ready to enjoy whatever God grants and whatever you must do.

Note that the work of salvation is applicable, too.  Salvation is not man's achievement, but God's accomplishment and we are impotent to do anything to prepare ourselves for it.  Only God can transform a heart and make one anew!  Left to ourselves, none of us would have believed or come to Jesus; much less if up to our own efforts we wouldn't be able to stay saved--He preserves as we persevere; He calls and woos as we come by His resurrection power.    We must realize that we come to Christ by grace alone and stay in Christ by grace alone--it's grace all the way.   Soli Deo Gloria!  

A Dead Heat

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ"  (2 Cor. 10:5, ESV).
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace" (Acts 20:24, NIV).

Are you Christ's competition?  In God's economy: greatness is not how many serve you, but how many you serve; the way up is down; humility comes before honor; emptiness comes before fullness--we must confess with John the Baptist:  "He must increase; I must decrease" (cf. John 3:30).   You commence growth in spirituality once you become cognizant that it's not about you!  Christ defeated Satan at the cross and the battle has been won to the chagrin of Satan, who thought he was winning when Christ went to Calvary.

God used the worst atrocity in history to bring about the devil's defeat (cf. Acts 4:28)--he stands defeated and we fight from victory, not for a victory--the battle is the Lord's. We all have individual races to run that comprise God's will for our lives and to gain its prize; however, we must compete according to the rules.  The battle is won! Satan is a defeated foe.  Jesus is the victor and we are in a mop-up effort to proclaim it to the world, notwithstanding Satan's resistance.

When we have completed the will and purpose of God, our time on earth is up and we go to meet our Maker (cf. Acts 13:36, ESV):  "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption." Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) says, "And] let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."  We all have different races and are to find God's will and plan for us.  We are all to compete as an athlete who runs for a perishable crown or wreath, but ours is an imperishable one and it isn't a sprint, but a marathon. Jesus won and we are just members of the winning team.  Our enemy is the world, the flesh, and the devil--not each other! We are our own worst enemy.

We all finish in a dead heat--there is no elite Christian who is above the others, though God is not unjust to withhold due reward for those who win their personal race and find God's will for their lives to do it.  The rule of this world is "winner takes all."  It's not "each man for himself" in a life ruled by the law of the jungle, but each of us looking out for each other's interest.  "One for all and all for one!"  We pray:  "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory..."  We are mere stewards of the riches of God and will be rewarded according to our faithfulness in these blessings.  We are all members one of another of the same body, some being an eye, and some an ear, for example.

In God's economy, all believers are winners and are members of His royal family that will rule with Him in the Millennial Kingdom, and even judge the world and angels.  You have a different race to run than I do, for instance; mine may be only a week long, while God expects you to endure a year to finish His will.  Note that the race is not a sprint, or how fast we go, but how we endure and how faithful we are--God isn't looking for our achievements or success, but our obedience!  As Mother Teresa of Calcutta (recipient of 1979 Nobel Peace Prize and now canonized) said, "God doesn't call us to success, but to faithfulness."

Christians are in an angelic conflict with the forces and authorities of darkness and the demonic realm, that we can only defeat by wearing the armor of God.  There is plenty of rewards to go around and share with the members of the kingdom of God, and it all belongs to God; we are just stewards of the blessings of God and are here to demonstrate our faithfulness and worthiness of eternal reward. Nothing in this life is permanent--we have spiritual green cards and are only passing through, as our real citizenship is in heaven (per Philippians 3:20).  We are stewards and God has leveled the playing field:  "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof'  (cf. Psalm 24:1).

There is no caste system in the body of Christ, for we are all royalty and equally members one of another--having different gifts, but the same Spirit.  We are all on the same team as a family in Christ!  When one part is honored, the whole body is honored. We must be careful that we are not competing with God; He is on our side and when we join Him we cannot lose the battle--which we fight in the name of the Lord with the full armor of God described in Ephesians 6:12ff.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Making Plans God's Way

"Then the king ... rejected the advice of the elders'  (2 Chron. 10:13).
"Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"  (Gal. 6:7).
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision"  (Joel 3:14).
"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?"  (Job 38:2).

Too many Christians erroneously make plans without counsel or wisdom from above.  If we rely only on human wisdom and insight we only get human results.  To achieve the impossible, to move mountains, we need God in the equation!  Equate the God factor--everything else are variables and He's a constant.  It is not an option to forget or ignore God and live as if there is no God; whether we believe there is a God or not, this is called "practical atheism."  There is safety in the multitude of counselors according to Solomon, and without counsel, plans fail.

Today we have everything from clergy, deacons, elders,  life coaches, school counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals to assist us in making wise decisions--we are not exempt from being wise, even as believers. God will reveal His will to us day by day and not necessarily in a rolled out itinerary.  For example, in Proverbs 24:27 it says to first make your career and then build your house.  Map things out before getting married, don't just hope to get it all together afterward (don't wait to get your act together!)--this is God's way!  God's way is to always put Him first (set priorities!) and let Him take care of the details and results.  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you"  (Matt. 6:33).

Being wise enough to be a success means seeing the Big Picture and not getting too detail-oriented, and thinking small-time. God does have a plan for us and He will get His way regardless of whether we cooperate. In mapping out our life course it is necessary to have "vision," without which we perish according to Proverbs 29:18.  We want God to get all the glory and credit for our success and realize it came from Him and we owe Him and have no place to boast (cf. Deut. 8:17-18) they say, an Englishman is a self-made man who worships his Creator!   Ponder this verse:  "All that we have done [God] has accomplished through us"  (Isaiah 26:12).

God is in control and micromanages our life as well as history itself and no one can say to God: "What hast thou done?"  (cf. Dan. 4:35).  God's will will be done and He has no Plan B case we mess up and ruin our lives; we cannot blame God for our failure because we are still culpable for our errors and sin. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps" (Prov. 16:9).  And also in the same vein:  "A man's steps are directed by the LORD.  How then can anyone understand his own way?"  (Prov. 20:24). "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails" (Prov. 19:21).

We may be determined, for example, not to ever marry; however, God may have other plans and we might still end up hitched.  "I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD..." (Jeremiah 29:11) implies that as His children He has good intentions toward us and not evil ones to destroy a good thing.  After all He is the Potter and we are the clay (cf. Isaiah 64:8).   All of our life was laid out before we were born according to Psalm 139:16 and this demonstrates His sovereignty--which is not limited by our so-called free will, which means we cannot frustrate God! (cf. Rom. 9:19 quoted:  "...for who can resist His will?"). Therefore, Job 42:2 says:  "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted."

In making plans we must turn over the lordship and ownership of our lives to Christ and surrender to God's will in all matters, holding nothing back--without reservation--this is a lordship issue and all believers struggle here because it's ongoing--Satan never relents.  "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).  God gives us the power to get wealth and to be a success (Mother Teresa said that God calls us to faithfulness and not to success!). Be careful what you plan for because you may get it (this goes also for praying).  In planning it never hurts to think big and to aim high, because then even if you don't reach your ultimate goal you may still be successful in God's eyes.  The revelation of God's plan or will for our life is conditioned upon our piety:  "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?  He will instruct him in the way chosen for him"  (Psalm 25:12).

Don't be wise in your own eyes or think you have a monopoly on wisdom--it takes the body of Christ to function and we all have something to contribute.  Finally, success means that whatever God has called us to do we will bear fruit and glorify God, it doesn't mean achieving the "American dream" or making a lot of money, having power or fame.  A word of wisdom from Deuteronomy 32:29 says: "If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!"  In summation, the goal is achieving God's will for your life (a life of relinquishment), and walking with the Lord day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment, in faithfulness and leave the results to Him--just trust and obey!  Soli Deo Gloria!

Are You a Success?

"If you haven't made a mistake, you haven't made anything!"
"If you haven't failed, you haven't tried!"

Mother Teresa of Calcutta wisely said, "We are not called to success, but to faithfulness."  She also said that  "true holiness consists in doing the will of God with a smile."  Everyone fails at something sometimes and you haven't lived until you find out that you're human and have limitations.  King George III said that you shouldn't try so hard to do what you enjoy, but enjoy what you do.  One of my bros. tells me that if you do what you're good at, you may have the opportunity to do what you want to do.

What's a success in your book?  [Before we proceed, let me define "success":  I do not mean making a certain amount of money, or landing that dream job or getting fame or power,  but God making your way prosperous as it says in Ps. 1 for those who are godly; in other words, having God's approval, glory, and blessing in your endeavors.]   Furthermore,  John wishes that "all may go well with you" in 3 John 2--but we must "never boast, except in the Lord" because 1 Cor. 4:7 says:  "Who makes you different from anyone else?   What do you have that you didn't receive?" Think of what George Whitefield said of a man going to the gallows:  "There but for the grace of God, go I."

"I am confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living" (Ps. 27:13).  It's not about achieving the so-called American dream or cashing in your spiritual lottery ticket and thinking that godliness is a means of financial gain (all false doctrines), but finding fulfillment and meaning in Christ and making an impact in His kingdom, while we influence others to His glory.

Success in the eyes of the world is no sign of God's favor ("For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked," says Ps. 72:3), because the rain falls on the unjust as well as the just and for "those in this world whose reward is in this life" (Ps. 17":14) some people's "portion is in this life," it is written in the Psalms.  God blesses all people but some people in all ways and some in some, but all are blessed in some way because God is good--no one can deny that!

The more accurate questions would be:  "Are you in the will of God?"  If you are, then you are really successful, regardless of what the world thinks.  Many people give themselves a pat on the back and congratulate themselves for the success:  We deserve no accolades--God gets the glory!  (E.g., the self-made Englishman who worships his creator doesn't praise God!)   Psa. 100:4 says that "He has made us, and not we ourselves." We seem to be the product of our genes, our environment, our family and friends, and many other factors, but we are not the slave to them by the grace of God--Providence must be put into the equation.  The old debate, nature vs. nurture thinks everything can be explained.  God must be reckoned with and given the glory--Soli Deo Gloria!

Ambition is not sinful, if to the glory of God and not selfish (Jer. 45:5:  "Do you have great plans for yourself?")  Isa. 26:12 says, "All that we have accomplished, [God has] done."  The Jews were reprimanded by Amos in chapter 6 verse 13:  "You who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar [nothing] and say, "Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?"  Success is not so much a matter of self-confidence, as God-confidence.  We are only responsible for the gifts and opportunities we have.  Isa. 45:7 says that God brings prosperity.  Deut. 8:18 says that God brings the power to get wealth

If you give yourself the credit or think that it was your hard work that brought you success, it isn't the kind of success God calls us to.   "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God"  (2 Cor. 3:5).  We are merely vessels of honor that God has used:   Providence is at work:   "He who is faithful in little, shall be faithful in much."   Give God the glory for what He has wrought in you and be like Paul:  "I venture not to speak, but of what the Lord has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18).   To use a cliché, our success is more a matter of trusting, than trying and being a faithful steward of what God gives us, rather than our abilities--"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong"  (Eccl. 9:11).  Sin is usually the downfall, not ability or effort.

Many people are hard workers and never get anywhere, and others just seem to inherit or fall into prosperity by fate or destiny, but it is Providence in reality and they are giving God the credit.  The book of Eccl. says "Luck and chance happen to all.," which means that there are not explainable events that are attributed to forces other than God--but we know that there is no such thing as an accident or fortuitous event with God, but a time and purpose for everything--there are no maverick molecules!

 A note on the will of God:

We have the power and ability to thwart God's preceptive will but not the right--we are culpable for sin, which is the violation of God's revealed will.  God's decreed will is none of our business and we are not to seek it.  Evil is simply not His plan.   Now can you see why necromancy, seances, and fortune-telling are taboo or off-limits?   Soli Deo Gloria!

Are We All A Success?

Modern-day psychology will tell you that self-esteem is vital and the measuring rod to go by and not to worry what people say--it's all subjective and what your own personal goals are, not what society or God says that matters.  I got news:  no one is a success at everything and we are all bound to fail at something, or we just haven't tried enough or been around the block.  Admit it:  you've probably blown it or failed at least once, but that doesn't make you a failure.  Some kids can be failures in high school and be late bloomers and succeed late in life or finally find their niche or calling and talent.  You have no right to call someone a general failure in life, but you could say they are failures at marriage, or raising kids or a business.

Look at Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, who is a success on the gridiron, but a lousy dad.   But maybe they are a spiritual success in being prayer warriors, for instance, that can be a great servant for God.  To whom much is given, much is required;  we don't know what God expects of people--look at the widow who was successful at giving her mite!

Case in point, to get personal:  I was an exceptional success in high school and was considered one of the most likely to succeed (which I am trying to define) and my class would label me a failure now because I live a Veterans Home and have not even achieved the American dream.  But I believe I am in the will of God and all things will work out for the good (Rom. 8:28).  The Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ) will determine my level of success and worthiness and the amount of so-called reward.  You can be a success in the eyes of the world, achieving fame, fortune, and power, but fail and get no reward from God--it's all wood, hay, and stubble.

 If you fail at something, don't label yourself as a failure but that you just experimented at something that wasn't right for you.  You really haven't lived until you failed and if you've never failed, you've probably haven't aimed high enough.  They say in the Air Force to Aim High and that is a good code to live by because if you aim to be president and only become governor you can't be considered a failure, but that you just set your goals too high and should be more realistic.

Let's get specific:  We have to be realistic, like a son who is only 5 foot 3 and wants to be a football player would be discouraged and counseled into something more relative to his abilities and talents and limits.  'Nothing is too hard for [God]!"  "I can do all things [in His will] through Christ who strengthens me."  The key is not to think that you are superman and can succeed at anything, but that you find that which you can succeed and have been called to do and God will bless you.   I do not believe in prosperity theology that being a Christian means you will make a lot of money as a fringe benefit.  But God will bless your endeavors you do in His name and that He has called you to do in His will.    If you do succeed in the eyes of the world, don't let it go to your head but stay humble and give the glory to God.   We are only the vessels of honor used for His glory.

And so success is both subjective and objective. (Objectivity is true regardless of personal opinion or feeling).    Like passing a driving test you can say that you objectively failed.   But how can you say a preacher failed in his sermon without it being just subjective if the people heard him gladly and he got results--what is the criteria?  There are elements of both viewpoints.   A soldier can fail at the firing range but succeed in bivouac or CQ duty or not do so good in basic training but excel at Advanced Individual Training for his specialty at a higher level.  We can't just label people as complete failures, though some may be. In sum:   No one for whom Christ died is a complete failure, or is worthless, but is a vessel of honor for God--Let God be God and do the judging.    Soli Deo Gloria!

Prosperity Doctrine Caveat

Everyone is talking about the "name-it-and-claim-it" teaching or the "health-wealth-and-prosperity" doctrine. The seeker-sensitive churches are well aware that this draws a crowd. The "church of what's happening now" is telling people just what they want to hear. False prophets in the Bible did the same thing--they prophesied what the people wanted to hear; they tickled their ears. True prophets were known for making people uncomfortable. Evangelism has become a marketing scheme and a promotional effort. Charismatic and entrepreneurial preachers (who don't have any exegetical skills) are gaining a following of themselves, not the Lord. I know this from personal experience where I was a "fan" of the teacher. Jesus never made it easy to become a disciple, he never toned down is requirements and made it more palatable--he wanted self-denial and the willingness to carry a cross. Beware of "easy-believism" that doesn't require bowing to the Lordship of Christ in repentance and faith.

I'm not saying that God doesn't prosper Christians: Far from it--"God delights in the prosperity of His servant." The problem is that Satan masquerades as an angel of light and is a sheep in wolves clothing. Just being able to prophesy or preach (some are really just great speakers or storytellers or comedians) doesn't mean it has the Lord's blessing, but God can still use him for His purposes. (Some will say, "Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name?") I am not vilifying or casting a slur on any certain preachers--whom I would rather call motivational speakers--but a word to the wise is sufficient.

Some of them are saying, "Ask not what you can do for God, but what God can do for you!" (Does that sound familiar?) People are seeking the benefits, not the Benefactor. God never said that money, fame, prosperity, or success was the reward--He is the reward. "The Lord is my portion..." (Lam. 3:24) See also Ps. 73:26. ("I am thy great and precious reward.") God looks at the motive--are you looking for money or for Him? Seek and you shall find, but you must search with all your heart (Jer. 29:13). Are we just to turn in our "spiritual lottery ticket?" Are the poor Christians in North Korean concentration camps just guilty of being Christians, or of not turning in their ticket? It is a higher calling to be a martyr than to be a millionaire, for instance. Prosperity is becoming the goal, not maturity in Christ. The mark of the believer is becoming wealthy, not the love of the brethren. (John 13:35 says they shall know the disciples by their love.)

The ironic thing is that God does prosper us--sometimes in ways we don't expect, though. Whatever you find to do, he can make you good at it. Brother Lawrence was a faithful cook in a monastery and practiced the presence of God, not wondering what blessing God had in store for him. There is saving faith and temporal faith. Temporal faith can be trusting God for a new job, for instance. Some ask, "If God is going to bless people, why not me?" The rain falls on the just and the unjust--God's principles work for the wicked as well. God's so-called common grace extends to all His creatures. The point is, what is your motive. Scripture says to "seek first the kingdom of God...." If you want God you will get success, etc. and if you want that you won't get it.

The covenant of Abraham still is in effect and we can claim many promises in the Bible. "Be it done unto you according to your faith" (Matt. 9:29). Remember: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." And "Do not love the world, neither the things of the world...." (Ps. 73:25-26 says, "For who have I in heaven but You, and earth has nothing I desire besides You...the Lord is my portion.") A wise man has said that our wealth doesn't consist in the abundance of our possessions, but in the fewness of our wants. "Store up treasures in Heaven...." Some seem to imply that if you're not prosperous in their estimate, there must be some sin in your life or you don't have enough faith. That may be true for some, but it is not always true, so you cannot judge. Where does it say, "You shall know them by their possessions"?


The truly spiritual man is content with what he has according to Phil 4:11 and David says in Ps. 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want...." We are to be "anxious for nothing...." Paul says that if he has food, clothing, and shelter he will be content. The order is to "Delight yourself in the Lord" or to be a Christian "hedonist" (according to John Piper), then God will give you the desires of your heart; however, those desires change as you grow in Christ. Paul said, "Whatever I had counted as profit, I now consider as loss...knowing Christ...." We don't get any promise to get all our "felt" needs, but only our legitimate needs, as God sees them. We are merely stewards of what God gives us, our time, talents, money, resources, and friends. Scripture says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Greed is one of the seven d/e/a/d/l/y sins. It is not wrong to want something good, but it must be on God's terms. He demands tithing, lordship, repentance, spiritual growth, among other things. Tithing is not a legal requirement for salvation, (note that tithing in itself to bend God's will doesn't work, for God loves a cheerful giver according to 2 Cor. 9:7), or sanctification, but a principle of God's economy to be blessed by God. The secret to being blessed is to bless. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The mature Christian is so busy being a steward of what God has blessed him with and counting his blessing that he doesn't worry about being prosperous or wealthy. We should see God's blessing as having purpose of His glory. "...That you may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).


There are several promises and passages in Holy Writ that deal with this. God has a lot to say about the subject. Mal. 3:10 says that we should "test" God with tithing and He will meet all our needs and more! Ps. 84:11 says, "...no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." 1 Tim. 6:17 says, "He has given us all things for our enjoyment." I like Jer. 29:11 the best: "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." Josh. 1:8 is classic: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart form your mouth...Then [note the condition] you will be prosperous and successful." "Delight yourself in the Lord [make God your highest joy], and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:5). Deut. 8:18 is widely read: "For remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth." (Never give yourself credit for your prosperity , thinking it was a fluke, or just think you're lucky!) "...And I will heal My people and bring them abundant peace and security." By the way, where is your security? Matt. 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Prosperity and success per se are no sign of God's favor or approval. One of the oldest questions in the Bible is, "Why do the wicked prosper?" (see Ps. 73) There is a right church for every believer, depending on where he is at spiritually. You don't have to go to a prosperity-teaching church for God to prosper you. I do not wish to judge any preacher's ministry, but only to make manifest the issues involved. "The rich and poor have this in common--God is the maker of them both." Some wise man has said that for every 100 people who can handle poverty, only one can handle prosperity. The point is this: You have to define success and prosperity, because they may vary from person to person. Success to one person may be being a good dishwasher or waiter--to another a good doctor or preacher. Success is really finding God's calling on our lives and enjoying it. Mother Teresa said, "God doesn't call us to success, but to faithfulness."

Success is up to Him, our part is faith. God tests all of us, and we must learn to rejoice in the Lord always, regardless (Hab. 3:18 says even if the trees don't blossom, we should rejoice--as long as we have the Lord we have not lost all.) The commission of the church is to spread the gospel and to edify the saints, not to make an empire. I don't believe we have to take vows of poverty like Catholic priests do, but we should be modest and not flaunt our wealth either. One of the churches in Revelation was poor and Paul collected offerings from a poor church to help out the poor brethren in Jerusalem--they gave out of their poverty--but first, they give of themselves.

Christ, though He was rich, become poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (but he isn't necessarily talking about money). I feel sorry for the rich man who is not rich towards God. "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Good advice: Earn as much as you can, save as much as you can, give away as much as you can. Hebrews 11 tells of the heroes of the faith that didn't receive the promise, but the world wasn't worthy of them, nevertheless.

True success as a ministry is not measured in clout, prosperity, wealth, politics, numbers, or any other worldly idea, but in its adherence to the truth and faithfulness. Many so-called preachers are highly popular in the eyes of the world, but Jesus says, "Woe unto you when all men speak highly of you" (Luke 6:26). Doesn't Sun Myung Moon, of the Unification Church cult have one of the largest churches in the world?--case in point! "To mock the poor is to insult God," says Proverbs and to imply that everyone should be rich is mocking in my opinion. God has chosen the poor in this life to be rich in faith.   Soli Deo Gloria!