Monday, March 26, 2007, 05:35 PM
Value and Success
By
Nancy Howe
What is your most valued possession? Who is the most valuable person in your life? These questions are not to be taken lightly or ask just once in awhile. We should be asking ourselves this question often. It helps to keep our priorities straight.
We live in a throw away world. This country and the world has set itself up as a god—believing we know what is and what is not valuable. Human life is no longer valuable. There have been more babies killed in the womb then there have been in all of the wars fought. They are killed because they are inconvenient. Many children are allowed to be born but they hold little value to their parents. They are abused and can be sold into child slavery. We are exploiting our children in horrible ways. There are teachers and parents that do not believe some students have value because they do not excel in the classroom or in sports. In many cases the handicapped are looked down on and even killed. Not too long ago they allowed a woman to be starved to death. Which I might add is a horrible way to die according to doctors. Men and women in prison are viewed as having no value. The list goes on. But God sees all of this very differently.
We place value on our performance or lack there of. God places value on the fact that we exist by His creating us in our mother’s womb. He breaths life into us. Our value does not rest on what we achieve; it rests on who God is. God can take every one of us and work His desires in us. Great Christian leaders are not born they are made. When we look at the people in the Bible, they did not have much going for them as far as human standards were. Most were considered pretty low on mans achievement scale.
The world sees value as beauty, powerful, famous and wealthy. Because of the worlds view of success many Christians believe it is not a good thing to be successful. So, they are happy with the little they have and they do not ask for more. God wants us to be successful as well. But we are to ask for success from God’s point of view. We are not to confuse it with greed. God can give us so much more than what we ask for.
When I look at my own situation, would I be considered successful in the world’s point of view? Absolutely not. I am a total failure to the world’s standards of what success is. Am I a success in God’s eyes? Absolutely! God is not looking at my power—I have none. I never won any beauty contest. He is not looking at my finical situation—it is not real great. What God looks at is my heart. He looks at my faith, my desires and what I strive for. He looks at my goals and who and what I value the most. If these things correspond with God’s I am a great success to God. However, I can not take any credit for my success. I would never succeed at anything without the Holy Spirit working it in my heart. All credit and glory goes to God. When I recognizing who is in control of my life it takes any pride in myself from me. This is a very big battle that rages in me. Pride in self is one of the most destructive things that man has and it can destroy us. I must continually ask myself where my values lie. And even though I slip and fall all of the time I know that God loves and protects and forgives. By His Holy Spirit He assures me of His forgiveness and that I am very valuable to Him. By His Word He makes me aware that I can do no good thing on my own. It must all come from God by His Spirit.
God measures success by our obedience, faithfulness and righteousness. I wish to obey all that He asks of me. I am a success because I repent of my sins knowing that I fall far short of the mark but I know that Christ has destroyed the heartache I should face for my sins. On the cross He suffered in my place. He died in my place. He experienced the total separation from God in my place. He rose from the dead and I too will live in glory because He lives. I am extremely successful by the Grace of God. God offers this success to all that walk in His ways. He wants all to desire Him above everything else. Only by the Holy Spirit can we be faithful and righteous. We will never be these things by our own desire or ability. Righteous does not mean we are sinless. Christ took my sins on the cross but He did not take my ability to sin daily. And I do.
Our value does not rest on how well people respond to us when we obey God—He does not judge us on their response to our faith. He judges on how faithful we are. When we are faithful to God we have fulfilled His purpose. This does not mean we will not have problems. Much of the time there are more of them due to our faithfulness to God. But when we have faith we are the victor in the end. Ask yourself if you desire success from the world’s point of view of God’s point of view.
You can reach Nancy at:
Crossing the GAP
PO Box 384
Marshall, IL 62441
Monday, March 19, 2007, 06:42 PM
Blessings from God
When you pray for God to bless you what do you have in mind? Who will benefit if God blesses you? Where are your desires?
God loves to bless us—so why don’t we always receive what we ask for? Life Application Bible ft.note in Ps. 95:11 says, “What keeps us from God’s ultimate blessings—ungrateful hearts (Ps.95:2), not worshiping or submitting to Him (Ps. 95:6), hardening our hearts (95:8), testing God because of stubborn doubts (95:9), In Heb.4:5-11, we are warned not to harden our hearts, but to reject the glamour of sin and anything else that would lead us away from God.”
The first question to ask is—am I praying in accordance with His will or is the prayer my own desires? If God does not bless us it is virtually impossible for us to be a blessing to others. How can we love if we have never experienced love? How can we help others financially if we have no money? How can we have good relationships if we have never experienced them ourselves?
If we ask for blessings from God to only benefit our own personal desires and needs we may not receive them. But when we ask for blessings from God’s perspective—we ask so we can help others. We can share our blessing, whether it is emotional, educational or financial. Sharing and outreach is very important to having our prayers answered.
Now, I am not saying that we cannot or should not ask blessings for ourselves but God will not always come around to what we want. This may be due to lack of faith on our part. “God’s provision was as large as their faith and willingness to obey. Beware of limiting God’s blessings by a lack of faith and obedience. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20; II Kings 4:6 ft.note-Life Application Bible).
Our obedience must always begin with humility. His way must be better then our way. Even when we do not understand why he leads us in a certain direction we are to go in faith. Then we will receive his blessings. Our obedience is the one thing that God takes note of and showers us with His blessings. And this obedience is always reaching out to others. To not obey is sin (Gen. 14:19). Our obedience comes from true love for God (John 14:21).
When God blesses us we must be very careful that we put the credit where the credit should go. We may forget God when he blesses us greatly and this draws us away from God. We start thinking that we are self-sufficient. If we are not thankful to God we have pulled away from Him.
We cannot fulfill God’s purpose without His blessings. God only gives good and perfect gifts. God promises great blessings to his people, but many blessings require our active participation. To receive God’s blessings we are to seek God (Ps. 34:4, 10). We cry out to Him (Ps. 34:6, 17). We must trust Him (Ps: 34:8). We are to fear Him (Ps. 34:7, 9). We must refrain from lying (Ps. 34:13). We are to turn from evil, do good and seek peace (34:14). We are to serve only Him (Ps. 34:22). We are to be humble (Ps. 34:18). And His blessings are: He will deliver us from fear (Ps. 34:4). He will save us out of our troubles (Ps. 34:6). He will guard and deliver us (Ps. 34:7). He will show us goodness (Ps. 34:8). He will supply our needs (Ps.34:9). He will listen when we talk to Him (Ps.34:15). He redeems us (Ps.34:22).
Blessings sometimes must come with emotional or physical heartaches. God has a plan so wait patiently for Him to work it out (Luke 1:30, 31). “If you expect God’s blessings, you must revere Him and gladly obey Him.” (Ps. 112:1) Blessed in Christ is the deepest form of happiness. It fills us with hope and joy independent of any outward circumstances. Blessed joy is humility and self-sacrifice. (Mat.5:3-21)
You can reach Nancy at:
Crossing the GAP
PO Box 384
Marshall, IL
62441
Back Next
