Successful versus Fruitful.
I see a lot of Facebook comments about being successful. Then there is always a quote that on the surface looks and sounds good. However we have to ask the hard questions. Like, does this line up with the Word of God, the Character of God, and what the Word teaches about money. Money? Yes, it would seem that most quotes on Facebook ties success to money. In other words, you are not successful if you are not making money. I am having some serious Scripture issues with this mind set. So here is a little lesson on the difference between being successful (from a worldly mindset) versus being fruitful (from a Biblical point of view. They are not the same. Now I am not against making money, but the financial side of what I do does not dictate whether or not I'm successful.
The lesson of fruitfulness
God wants His children to be fruitful. I believe that as Christians, we wrongly encourage our kids to be successful, which is MAN-CENTERED, when we should be encouraging them to be fruitful, which is GOD-CENTERED. Life isn't to be lived for ourselves. Jesus called us to bear much fruit (John 15). Just as Joseph's fruitful vine ran over the wall, so that the Egyptians were blessed, so we need to teach our children our responsibility to be a blessing to people of other cultures who have not heard the good news of Christ. You can be successful by the standards of the world and not be fruitful. But you cannot be fruitful by the standards of the Word and not be successful. There is a lot to be said about only seeking to be successful from a selfish man-centered attitude.
Matthew 13:22 KJV He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mark 4:19 KJV And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Luke 8:14 KJV And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Joshua 7:21 KJV When I SAW among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I COVETED them, and TOOK them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Genesis 3:6 KJV And when the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was PLEASANT to the eyes, and a tree to be DESIRED to make one wise, she TOOK of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
1 John 2:16 KJV For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (I saw, I coveted, I took).
Walk with God and enjoy the fruitfulness of His blessings...others may call you successful but you know the difference.
I see a lot of Facebook comments about being successful. Then there is always a quote that on the surface looks and sounds good. However we have to ask the hard questions. Like, does this line up with the Word of God, the Character of God, and what the Word teaches about money. Money? Yes, it would seem that most quotes on Facebook ties success to money. In other words, you are not successful if you are not making money. I am having some serious Scripture issues with this mind set. So here is a little lesson on the difference between being successful (from a worldly mindset) versus being fruitful (from a Biblical point of view. They are not the same. Now I am not against making money, but the financial side of what I do does not dictate whether or not I'm successful.
The lesson of fruitfulness
God wants His children to be fruitful. I believe that as Christians, we wrongly encourage our kids to be successful, which is MAN-CENTERED, when we should be encouraging them to be fruitful, which is GOD-CENTERED. Life isn't to be lived for ourselves. Jesus called us to bear much fruit (John 15). Just as Joseph's fruitful vine ran over the wall, so that the Egyptians were blessed, so we need to teach our children our responsibility to be a blessing to people of other cultures who have not heard the good news of Christ. You can be successful by the standards of the world and not be fruitful. But you cannot be fruitful by the standards of the Word and not be successful. There is a lot to be said about only seeking to be successful from a selfish man-centered attitude.
Matthew 13:22 KJV He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mark 4:19 KJV And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Luke 8:14 KJV And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Joshua 7:21 KJV When I SAW among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I COVETED them, and TOOK them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Genesis 3:6 KJV And when the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was PLEASANT to the eyes, and a tree to be DESIRED to make one wise, she TOOK of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
1 John 2:16 KJV For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (I saw, I coveted, I took).
Walk with God and enjoy the fruitfulness of His blessings...others may call you successful but you know the difference.
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