Answers

By   •   September 22, 2006   •   Topics:

Man in suit

Q:

Is it wrong in God's eyes for someone to be successful in life? I've always worked hard, and I've been very successful, but now that I'm getting older I'm wondering if this was somehow wrong.


A:

Success and wealth aren’t necessarily wrong in God’s eyes–not if you have the right motivation. Some of God’s choicest servants in the Bible were people who had great wealth (such as Abraham and Job)–although others had very little.

After all, God gives us our abilities, and He wants us to do our best and use them wisely. The writer of Ecclesiastes said, “It is good and proper for a man … to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor. … Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). The Bible also says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The Bible, however, strongly warns us against taking pride in our success, or allowing money or things to take the place which God alone should have in our lives. It also warns us against putting things in place of our families or other people and their needs. Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters. … You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).

Make sure of your commitment to Christ, for He alone should be your treasure. Then commit all you are and all He has given you to His service. Everything you have has come from Him, and you are only a trustee of it for His glory. Someday this life will end, and only things of eternal value will last.