Success and Money

[Chad]

Success and Money
Charles Stanley

Luke 12:13-21

There is a deception prevailing today, one so powerful it makes people risk their families, their health, and their integrity. The deception is that success is defined by our material wealth. Many of us decide we are a failure without it. And with it, we somehow believe we are automatically a success. To uncover the truth, we need only ask ourselves, What is God's view of us?

God observes that some of us have an idolatrous attitude toward money. Life centers around the topic of money—getting it, keeping it, having enough of it, and bemoaning our lack of it. A godly view of wealth sees money as a medium of exchange given by God so that we may provide for others and meet our basic needs. Riches are not to be worshiped; only He is.

The Lord warns us about our attitude toward treasure. (Matthew 6:24) The pursuit of wealth can set us adrift from God or choke off the power of Scripture in our lives. It can even enslave us as we try to gain "financial security." The Lord states that He is to be the center of our lives—not the pursuit of riches—and our security is to be found in Him alone. We are urged to take steps to protect ourselves against the temptations that come with desiring or having treasure.

None of us are immune from the lure to pursue wealth or the temptation to define ourselves as successful when we have it. Pray and ask God to reveal your attitude toward money and success. Then confess any ungodliness.

 

[Questioning]

I think that money and success get mixed up because of what success MEANS and what money DOES. Individual success, in our society, currently, means being able to do the things you want, when you want to do them, and how you want to do them. Money provides power, and doing anything at all takes power.

Now, if your endeavors are fairly modest, (say, sitting in a small trailer and praying) then you can be "successful" with very little money/power. However, if your endeavors are extravagant (say, feeding all those who are starving), then you need a lot of money or power or both. However, with a lot of money and power you have the OPTION of doing either. You might sit in a small trailer and pray, or you might feed the starving masses of the world. It's your call. Since having the power gives one the option to either show his success or hide it, as he will, the state of having is seen as more desirable, regardless of how much it signifies individual success.

For my part, I would rather people view success as how they can positively influence their loved ones and their community. But most people don't see it this way, and besides, it does take money and power to do even that.