ICS Daily Devotions
Pursuing Success
The Bible says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV) which means that we are a product of our thought life. The world defines for us what success is and what it looks like without God. All of us are bombarded with the world’s values and principles even if we are born into Christian families. The world is constantly molding our thinking and pressurizing us to conform to its standards. How we carry ourselves, our thoughts and decision processes are hugely affected by the world unless we renew our minds with the Word of God.
If our end goal is to be godly and successful then we need to ensure that we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness so that all these things will be added to us as well.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
Ecclesiastes 5:14-15 (NKJV) But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.
Many of us will live long enough to witness two occasions, namely a birth of a child and a cremation of the dead. As a pastor, I have seen both the joyous occasion of receiving a life into our lives, the joy it brings to couples who have been believing God for a baby, and also the grief of saying goodbye to those who have died. We would have witnessed that babies brought nothing with them when they came into this world at birth. The remains of those who have been cremated are ashes to be placed into an urn or to be scattered at sea. They took absolutely NOTHING with them of what they had pursued so zealously in life into eternity. In fact, it is interesting to observe that babies come into this world with clenched fists and the elderly leave this earth with open palms. It is as though the babies come into this world ready to pursue something and the old gave all up when they died. Therefore, if we know that we are not be able to take anything with us at the end of our lives, then we should review the values and priorities in our lives now. What kind of balance should we have in life since we know the end?
Our life span on earth is so short compared with the eternity that awaits us. How should we live our lives differently and invest in our future?
Our conclusion should be godliness with contentment is great gain.
Sermon Series -Balancing Godliness and Riches (Part 2)
