THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSFUL LIVING

THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSFUL LIVING

Wednesday, July 10, 2013
 
Mark [MKJV] 8:31-38 And He [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Go behind Me, Satan! For you do not mind the things of God, but of the things of men. 34 And calling near the crowd with His disciples, He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Therefore whoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man shall also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
 
  Indeed success is measured by profit. But what definition of profit would that be?

  Yesterday, using parenting as example, I explained success by God’s measure is contrary to mankind’s idea of success; there’s constant tension between His wisdom and man’s philosophy of being an accomplished person. It is a conflict common to all conscientious people.

  Paul, in writing to conflicted believers at Corinth, explained that our faith is not to be based on human wisdom, but on God’s; God’s wisdom not held or adhered to by world rulers (Example – Acts 26:28) . . . they here today and gone tomorrow, whereas Jehovah God is King eternal. (Ex.3:14; 1Cor.2:5-6; 1Tim.1:17)

  Reading God’s Word we see many that lived successfully in and by God’s measure, pleasing Him, profiting exceedingly.  However, beginning with Abel some faithful disciples living in conflict with mankind’s standard of success paid dearly by man’s determination. (Gen.4:1-8; Heb.11:4)

  Here in the USA is no exception. Each and every individual, follower of Christ or not, is confronted with the two opposing measures of success. Throughout our history those living successfully by God’s measure, trustworthy, loyal, kind et al, were respected, howbeit grudgingly at times.

  This has been altered and continues to change. Those of us living success the King’s Way (Jn.14:6) are increasingly seen as hindrance to otherwise success.

  We have progressed from respect to being humored, from regard to ridicule, and recent cases of persecution. More than ever before in our nation we are individually and corporately faced with the question of successful living.

  What if it worsens? What if life in the USA does come to cruel mockings and scourgings, imprisonment, torture, living destitute . . . will we then live maturely by His measure of success? (Heb.11:36-40)  EBB4