Handling The Ups And Downs Of Life
Part 4 - How Do We Handle Success?
Luke 12:15-20
Rich man who had possessions - Luke 12:15-20
We can see…
Had God's blessings - vs. 16
His solitary thoughts - 17
His self-serving plans
Simple - not elaborate
Single-mindedness
Sincere - he felt they were right
Scornful - forgot God
Short-sighted - only looked at temporal
Short-lived - without God our plans go awry
[Look at Lazarus and the certain rich man - Luke 16:20-]
Nebuchadneezer who tasted power - Daniel 3
Elevated opinion of self
End to reasonable thoughts - made an image to worship (90 ft. tall)
Enormous agreement of surrounding people
Look at the three Hebrew Children - they were connected to real power
Rom. 12:3-5 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that
is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man
the measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body,
and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Haman who was filled with pride - Esther 3:1;
Better than others of comparable abilities
Brash in his controlling of others
Bold in his contempt of underlings
[Look at Mordecia - humble]
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the
lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso
trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
So what is real success?
Money?
Fame?
Fortune?
Or could it be being rich towards God?
Luke 12:21 So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore
I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither
for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The
life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24Consider the ravens: for they neither
sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them:
how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And
which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26If ye then be not able to do that thing
which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider
the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto
you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28If then God so clothe the grass, which
is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more
will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And
seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of
doubtful mind. 30For all these
things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth
that ye have need of these things. 31But
rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added
unto you.
Or could it be serving the Lord as He would have us serve?
1 Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be
not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that
they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against
the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Or could it be living a good godly life and affecting others?
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the
poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath
promised to them that love him? 6But ye have despised the poor.
So How Do We Handle Success?
Do we handle it well? For God? For others?
How do we miss the traps of possessions, power, and pride?
God would have us to:
Acknowledge His blessings
Admit our weaknesses
Appreciate His love
Allocate a place for Him in life
Accept His guidance in our lives
Advance His cause
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 060202am