Myth, 46

~ Success Will Bring God’s Approval ~

Man’s View  ~  Accomplishments and appearance (such as “Dress for Success”) are clear indicators of success.  Today we have some tongue-in-cheek expressions that help us bring back to reality such as “He who dies with the most toys wins!”  However in times of sober thinking we all know there are no U-Hauls in heaven.

God’s View  ~  God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance.  “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Reality  ~  It is spiritual growth that brings God’s approval.  “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.  But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12).

Biblical Example  ~  The Book of Job tells the account of a Godly man who suffered terribly as others looked on. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Myth, 36

~ Success Is A Result of Hard Work ~

The General Reality  ~  This concept is partly true.  It is true that hard work is not only necessary but often rewarded with a degree of success.  But this is not a formula that always work.  One can work very hard at doing the wrong thing and then be puzzled at the lack of desired results.  One can be very efficiently doing the wrong thing but unless they are working effectively towards the desired goal they will be disappointed. 

The Spiritual Reality  ~  When we consider the spiritual realm we understand that everything, including every outcome, is dependent upon a sovereign God! 

Scripture  ~  Arguably, the Apostle Paul accomplished more for the Church than any other person.  Consider his testimony.  “And that’s about it, friends.  Be glad in God!  I don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don’t mind hearing it again.  Better safe than sorry — so here goes.  

Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite.  All they’re interested in is appearances — knife-happy circumcisers, I call them.  The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it.  We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it — even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials.  You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting Christians; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.  The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash — along with everything else I used to take credit for.  And why?  Because of Christ.  Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life.  Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant — dog dung.  I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him.  I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ — God’s righteousness.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself.  If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it” (Philippians 3:1-11, msg).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Myth, 28

~ Spiritual Success Comes From Strength ~

Man’s View  ~  Greater strength and ability results in greater accomplishments.  Success is achieved through strength. 

God’s View  ~  God uses the broken, the weak, and unlikely to accomplish great things. 

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). 

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .