Devotion (The Trumpeter):
Money is not success

Luke 12:15KJV

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth

There was a time in the church where poor people were branded to be better Christians. What led to this error in judgement?

It was because the Christians of those days realised from their Bible that most of the times that Jesus spoke about the rich, He didn’t say something nice. Let us observe some of the statements that Jesus made about the rich

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God…….Mark 10:25KJV”

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth……….Luke 12:15KJV”

“ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:…..Revelation 3:17KJV”

These are hard statements from the Master.

Is Jesus against money? Certainly not, since He Himself received money from people?

“ And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance……Luke 8:2-3KJV”

What then is the problem with money? God’s problem with money is that money makes people proud.

As a Christian you better understand what pride means as far as God is concerned. Not what you think but what God thinks.

Money has made you proud when it causes you to say, think, act, assume or have a different opinion on any issue contrary to the Word of God.

For instance God’s stance is that money has nothing to do with success so if money causes you to assume, speak or think otherwise, you are proud.

There were Christians who were so rich yet Jesus referred to them as poor

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

This also means that not only the rich but also the poor can be equally proud. You may be poor but if you assume, act, think or say anything contrary to what the Word of God says, you are proud.

Success is not what makes you relevant but Christ relevant in and through your life. The problem of men is that they are after what will make them relevant.

Success is measured by how much of Christ is in your life, it is measured by godliness. The Bible says,

“For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen……Romans 11:39AMP”

Success is in how that thing has been used for God’s purpose. You are not successful because of money. You are not successful because you have a PhD, are a lawyer, doctor, judge or even a president. Your success is in how that money or profession has been used to further God’s purposes.

There may be two billionaires; one uses his money to advance God’s works of righteousness whilst the other has made a luxury out of it. As far as Heaven is concerned, the former is poor and wretched.

There is a multimillionaire in a church in Canada; he is a millionaire in dollars but an usher in the Church. He serves in the church and directs people to their seats whilst standing. This great man understands what success is, that true success is not in things. Success is within not in the externals. He says

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away……James 1:9-10KJV”

God bless you!