Chapter Four – DEFINING TRUE SUCCESS
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The average person is more intrigued with money than practically anything else. Wealth and prosperity are equated to success, and have become the main goal for many. They assume thattrue happiness will flow from these. Their only purpose for living is to accumulate money and material goods. Their goal is to see who can “die with the most toys.” This reasoning is a main contributor to the countless monetary problems permeating their lives. They never find true happiness at the end of the “money rainbow.”
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia adds insight into this mentality: “Americans often seek self-fulfillment and status through gaining material items. Indeed, products consumed and owned, rather than professional accomplishments or personal ideals, are often the standard of success in American society. The media exemplify this success with the most glamorous models of consumption: Hollywood actors, sports figures, or music celebrities. This dependence on products and on constant consumption defines modern consumer society everywhere. Americans have set the pace for this consumer ideal, especially young people, who have helped fuel this consumer culture in the United States and the world…Portrayed as a dizzy cycle of induced desire, consumerism seems to erode older values of personal taste and economy. Despite this, the mass production of goods has also allowed more people to live more comfortably and made it possible for anyone to attain a sense of style, blurring the most obvious form of class distinction.”
Many wrongly associate the pleasures of this life—glitz and glamour, designer clothes, new cars, cell phones, modern accessories, and so many other things—with living life to the fullest.
But is this what God calls abundant living? Is this true prosperity, as defined by the Creator and Master Designer of the laws that bring lasting success?
Finding True Prosperity
The definition of true happiness and prosperity is in the Bible—God’s written Word. In the book of Joshua, we find God’s promise to those who obey Him: “You may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have goodsuccess” (Joshua 1:8).
The Hebrew word for “success” is sakal, meaning “prudent, have good success, teach, understand, wisdom, wise, guide wittingly.” Notice that this does not mention physical riches. Instead, success is referred to as spiritual riches—wisdom, prudence and understanding.
The Proverbs explain, “Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom. Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:4-5), and “Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that getsunderstanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13-14). Also notice this: “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).
Understanding and wisdom are more important in life than wealth and possessions, which will one day disappear and leave nothing to show for it. This is most evident in today’s debt-burdened world. The Hebrew words for “understanding” are tabun and benaw, meaning intelligence, discretion, reason, skillfulness, understanding and wisdom. They do not refer to wealth or material possessions.
This should be the prosperity you seek, not man’s false definition of prosperity. True wealth—wisdom, understanding and obedience to God—should be what you seek to have, not a new DVD player, digital camera, flat-screen television or the latest technological invention. All these things arephysical and, while pleasant to have, are unneeded luxuries, not to be confused with life’s necessities. (To learn more, read our article “You Can Live the Abundant Life!”)
In Matthew' 6 ALL, Christ had much to say about establishing proper financial priorities. Here is what He commanded His disciples: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal…No man can serve two masters: For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [money]. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?…Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (Matthew 6:19-20, 24-25, 31).
It is better to lack comfort and be wise and happy, than to have all the latest gadgets, and be miserable with concern and worries—a slave to debt and creditors. Apply these steps in life to turn the tide on creditors, and take charge of your finances.
Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
Always remember Christ’s warning, “Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15). And Paul wrote, “Be content with such things as you have: For [God] has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
A New Age of Finance in Tomorrow’s World
One day, the corruption, lies, increasing debt, poverty, material obsession and fraud that consume so many will no longer exist. With the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth will come the enforcement of His laws—including those that govern finances, loans and debt.
In the coming millennium, the Year of Release will arrive every seventh year, ensuring that every child will have a home, and every family will live without financial worries. All people will be happy, helping each other and showing mercy and brotherly love toward fellowman. Every debt will be gone. All will pay God His tithes, and in turn, have all their needs provided for them. People will then wonder why so many did not keep His laws before. They will come to realize that the only luxury—necessity—worth anything is that of true happiness and abundant living as God has always had in store for mankind.
But, you can begin practicing these laws in your life now! By keeping God’s active, living laws, you can begin to experience the joy that God meant for mankind—but is lacking in society because man has broken those laws. Adhering to God’s financial laws will reap many benefits. You and your family will begin to live life as God intended, with abundance and peace of mind. Recall Christ’s words, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
By obeying God’s financial laws, you will slowly begin loosing the chains of financial bondage. As promised, if you faithfully apply all His laws, in return, God will provide for your every need. This is the promise of God—and carries more weight than all the platinum cards in the world and all the gold in Fort Knox!
You now know God’s monetary laws. By acting upon this understanding, you will truly begin to take control of your finances.
The path to financial freedom—yet undiscovered by so many—now lies ahead of you!
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By David C. Pack