Christian Living
What does it mean to be successful? We know that the world would say being successful is having a high paying job, a good house, money in the bank, prestige, notoriety, etc. But we as Christians have a totally different perspective on what success really is. We are laying up our treasures in heaven and not on this earth. The things of this world are only for a short few years anyway, but the things of eternal value will last forever and ever. The things which are seen here are called temporal things, but the things that will last forever in heaven are called eternal.
II Corinthians 4:18(KJV): While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
So what this means is everything we see right here and now, like material wealth and possessions, will not last forever, they are only temporal, but the things that we don't see right here and now that have eternal value will last forever in heaven one day. It is therefore more wise to live for eternal rewards than to have a lot of possessions and wealth in this world. The bible puts it this way in Colossian chapter 3.
Colossians 3:1(KJV): If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
As we are going through life we should always keep eternity in view and be in fellowship with our Lord. God wants us to enjoy the things he has given us, such as music or sports, but our main focus in life should always be on things above.
Of course the bible teaches us to work to provide for our families and to earn the money that we need to pay for the necessities of life, but other than that, we should not try to be rich in this world.
Proverbs 23:4(KJV): Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
God says he will provide for our daily needs and we are to walk by faith.
II Corinthians 5:7(KJV): (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Proverbs 30:8: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.
Jesus also taught us to ask for our daily bread, not to have goods laid up for many years.
Matthew 6:11(KJV): Give us this day our daily bread.
In the book of Matthew Jesus tells us what we should do with our lives concerning the matter of riches.
Matthew 6:19(KJV): Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;
20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
In fact, the unsaved people who are in the world's eyes successful, are actually fools because they have not prepared themselves for eternity. The following is the account of a foolish rich man who died without Christ.
16: And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18: And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19: And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20: But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided?
21: So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
In Matthew chapter 4 of the temptation of Jesus, the devil offered to give him all the kingdoms of the world, but Jesus said no because we are to put God first and serve him only.
Matthew 4:8(KJV): Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10: Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Most all unsaved people of the world are covetous, meaning that they want more and more of things and possessions, but we as Christians are taught to not be covetous because having a meaningful life for the Lord has nothing to do with the things we have.
Luke 12:15(KJV): And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Another important point I wanted to point out is that even in Christian schools people will emphasize getting a good job and career more than obeying the bible totally and living out and out for Jesus. Many Christians are what the bible calls "lukewarm." They want to live a respectable life and not be out and out for the devil, but they don't want to be out and out for Christ either.
Revelation 3:15(KJV): I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
So what God is saying is that he would rather you be cold or hot than to be lukewarm. Cold means you just don't care about God or the bible at all, but hot means you are on fire for God, wanting to obey the bible all the way, wholeheartedly and not halfheartedly. Just make up your mind that you are going to be on fire for God and obey his word totally, even if you are around lukewarm Christians. You will still have to take a bold stand for the Lord even though you are in a Christian school if you want to be used of God and earn rewards in heaven because unfortunately there are more lukewarm Christians in the world than Christians who are on fire for God.
So in conclusion, true success is to obey the bible all the way and be on fire for God, laying up treasures in heaven, and not being lukewarm or covetous for material things and earthly riches. God will provide your needs if you put him first.
Matthew 6:31(KJV): Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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