Proverbs 16 tells us, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” That passage describes God’s view of success and it’s quite different from the world’s view. Rob talks about that first.
Why are so many “successful” people miserable? The answer’s quite simple. They’ve discovered that money and possessions can’t buy happiness. We have a “God-shaped hole” in our souls. You can pour many things into that emptiness. Sometimes this is called “retail therapy,” but that is just a temporary patch over the hole. Many Christians fall into this trap of success by the world’s standards. They’ve bought into the lies that money and material things bring happiness. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … ” That doesn’t mean that Christians should stay poor and lowly to be successful in God’s eyes. Here, attitude counts far more than action. 1 Cor. 13 says, “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” God often provides an extra measure of resources beyond our needs, in the form of money or other assets, so that we can be generous toward His Kingdom. But He wants us to do that with the right attitude, out of love for Him, and others less fortunate. God often blesses us in ways that have nothing to do with material things. Loving relationships with family and friends, a strong, nurturing church, and most of all, a deeper relationship with Him. How do we obtain the “good things” God promises? In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” To help us be a success in God’s eyes we must remember three key words - surrender, obedience and persistence. Surrender means accepting that God owns it all. We’re only temporary managers or stewards of what he gives us. Obedience means being willing to use God’s resources as He directs. Persistence means sticking with the first two items no matter what worldly stresses or pressure we encounter. Nehemiah 6 asks, “Should someone in my position run from danger?” In Acts 21, we see Paul responding to disciples who wanted him to stay away from Jerusalem for his safety. He says, “Why all this weeping? I am ready to be jailed but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Now, that’s surrender, obedience and persistence put into action. When we’re successful in God’s eyes, we’ll know true peace and contentment - and that’s something worth striving for everyday. Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at Questions@MoneyWiseLive.org:<ul><li>Is it a good idea to move your pension lump sum into your 401k and keep it within the same fund company if you are age 61 and semi-retired, or should you roll it into a more conservative option like a fixed annuity?</li><li>How can you help your aunt consolidate and pay off her credit card debt without just giving her money? (Rob referred the caller to <a href="https://www.christiancreditcounselors.org/">Christian Credit Counselors</a>).</li><li>What are the two separate interest rates that apply to I-Bonds and how do you decide when it's time to redeem them?</li><li>Are I-Bonds a good gift for grandchildren?</li><li>Should you legally or morally keep the proceeds from Covid stimulus checks if they were based on your 2019 income but your 2020 income was higher?</li><li>At what point should you cash out a Whole Life insurance policy with a cash value of $38,000 assuming it will create a tax liability?</li><li>Should you sell your new home and build a smaller home on the same property, or are you responding to fear of the market in wanting to become debt-free?</li><li>How can you and your wife open retirement accounts for young pastors in your church who are still part-time students?</li><li>What can you do to save for retirement if you are 57, your husband is 64, you don't have a lot of savings and your side business closed as a result of Covid? </li></ul>Be sure to check out the rest of MoneyWise.org to connect with a MoneyWise Coach or access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on Facebook (MoneyWise Media) and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep MoneyWise on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the Donate tab at the top of the page.

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Proverbs 16 tells us, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

The Bible On Success

FaithFi | Jan 7, 2022

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Where Faith Meets Finance

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