July 8
1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21
What does a successful life look like? Is it found in applause and fame from the world, or in living to please God?
1 Chronicles 5 introduces us to some very successful men. We are told that they “were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families.” These would be like modern day CEOs, Wall Street tycoons, and those featured on the cover of magazines, but notice the next verse. “But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land.” Ouch! In the eyes of the world, they could not have been more impressive, but spiritually they were complete and utter failures. Since they fell short spiritually, they were not ultimately successful.
In contrast to the men in Chronicles is the example of Paul in Acts 26. He describes his conversion and the power of God’s grace which he recounts every chance he can.. In his retelling, he describes how successful he was within Judaism. Yet he considers all his accomplishments as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. To achieve extreme vocational, financial, or physical success, without God, is to be a failure in light of eternity. So, if we want to be successful, we need to first pursue God and live our lives for him. So let us seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Father God, help me to pursue you as the most important thing in my life. Help me to seek you first and pursue success in your eyes and not simply in the eyes of the world. Amen.
Question: Where do you find yourself living more to be successful in the eyes of the world than in God’s eyes?
What does a successful life look like? Is it found in applause and fame from the world, or in living to please God?
1 Chronicles 5 introduces us to some very successful men. We are told that they “were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families.” These would be like modern day CEOs, Wall Street tycoons, and those featured on the cover of magazines, but notice the next verse. “But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land.” Ouch! In the eyes of the world, they could not have been more impressive, but spiritually they were complete and utter failures. Since they fell short spiritually, they were not ultimately successful.
In contrast to the men in Chronicles is the example of Paul in Acts 26. He describes his conversion and the power of God’s grace which he recounts every chance he can.. In his retelling, he describes how successful he was within Judaism. Yet he considers all his accomplishments as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. To achieve extreme vocational, financial, or physical success, without God, is to be a failure in light of eternity. So, if we want to be successful, we need to first pursue God and live our lives for him. So let us seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Father God, help me to pursue you as the most important thing in my life. Help me to seek you first and pursue success in your eyes and not simply in the eyes of the world. Amen.
Question: Where do you find yourself living more to be successful in the eyes of the world than in God’s eyes?
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