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How does the Christian measure success? This is not, in itself, a new topic. There have been many studies and sermons given, with Bible support throughout, presenting a case for one view or the other. We have spoken before about the “Prosperity Gospel,” which has become quite popular in recent years, and draws large crowds before its charismatic teachers… but this is a very flawed view of spiritual reality.
When Yahshua’s disciples encountered a victim of misfortune, a beggar who was both poor and blind, we read this: “And as Yahshua passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Yahshua answered, ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’” (John 9:1-3) Yahshua then healed him, and gave him sight.
Yahshua said of the future, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In Yahshua we have our peace, not in the things of the world. In Yahshua we find our comfort, not in our possessions or advantages. We are not promised a life of physical ease or smooth progress in secular matters. It is not a sign of God’s displeasure that some are poor and dependent, nor is it a sign of His particular favor that some are rich. We are told, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1Tim 6:8) Some have more than enough food and raiment, and for some getting enough is a constant struggle, but there are blessings and challenges in any life.
On the other hand, there are some who say that being wealthy is actually the true curse. They will read the verses right after that one from Paul’s letter to Timothy: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1Tim 6:9-11)
We know that Paul is often misquoted by even the “professional” Bible teachers from time to time. The majority of Christians believe that Paul teaches, “we all sin and come short of the glory of God,” when the actual verse from Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned,” all have already come short, and now need a savior in order to escape that fatal spiritual condition. Here, this passage from Timothy is very often misquoted as “money is the root of all evil.” It is not the money that is evil, or the root of evil. It is the love, it is the quest for wealth. Paul writes, “For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.”
That wording is significant. Remember, our tests of fellowship, our ability to tell if one is a follower of Yahshua or not, comes down to two things: the Commandments of Yahweh and the Faith of Yahshua. If something is a sin, indeed, the very “root” of all evil, then it must violate either the Commandments of God, or the Faith of Yahshua, or both. There is no commandment that says “Thou shalt not be rich,” nor does the faith of Yahshua require the wealthy to strip themselves of their wealth. Paul writes, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1Tim 6:17-19)
The rich are to be generous, and interestingly, “willing to communicate.” It would be no excuse to say, “I would love to give to the poor, but I don’t know any poor people.” There are always the needy with us, both in and outside of the Church, and the rich have unique opportunities to relieve the suffering of others, as long as they are willing to be aware of such suffering.
Some may point to these verses, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you,” (James 5:1) and the well-known statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)
And yet, what is the sin? What is the transgression of the Law that would have so stained their souls? Paul has told us what it is. It IS a commandment of Yahweh that says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” (Exo 20:17) That is the sin. That is the instruction that, in the rejection of it, reveals the character unfit for Heaven.
Paul says that in pursuit of wealth, some have “erred from the faith.” In violating the Commandments of Yahweh through covetousness of others’ fortunes, they have erred from the Faith of Yahshua. That is what reveals the carnal nature. They wanted more than providence had provided for them, and in their discontent, they accepted false thoughts, turning away from the Spirit of Christ.
Not all who have wealth have violated their principles to obtain it. Some, being content with little, have inherited, or earned, or otherwise gained, much. The Scriptures, and the New Testament in particular, will use very strong language where earthly riches are concerned, because for many people, it is a danger to possess more than they need. They are at risk of being high-minded, of trusting in uncertain riches, and in seeing less of a need for depending on Yahweh, but if they follow Paul’s counsel, their temptations will not overcome them.
We have been looking, in the past few studies, at the Book of Job. We saw how its central character was exceedingly wealthy, possessing enough lands and livestock to sacrifice multiple animals every day in an effort to safeguard the spiritual health of his children. We are told that “this man was the greatest of all the men of the east,” (Job 1:3) in the context of describing his household and possessions.
Despite this great wealth, and the temptations that inevitably come with it, Yahweh Himself testified that Job was His servant, “a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” (Job 1:8)
How was Job able to do this, to be both very wealthy, of which the Scriptures often speak very negatively, and yet be perfect and upright, the very standard of Christian faith and spiritual refinement?
Even though none of us here are in any immediate danger of becoming very rich, it is an important question, and something the 144,000 should be able to discuss intelligently, for the question might be asked: if Job, whose status the Scriptures describe as a very great disadvantage, may be described as being “perfect” in his faith, what excuse would anyone have for accepting a life less than perfection? You see, all those Scriptures about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, and for the rich to be cast down in the last days, and for the covetousness often associated with wealth being natural to the carnal man… let them speak about how impossible it all is. Let them set the stage for us to think, “Truly it is impossible for the rich to be spiritual,” and then, let us consider the success of Job.
If Job, in his wealth and success, in his complete independence from Yahweh in all apparent matters of this life, could love, and fear, and honor, His Creator, could – by Yahweh’s grace – choose to do all these things, what prevents anyone else from bowing in worship to Yahweh? How can the message of victory in Yahshua be rejected? It is only by the closing of one’s eyes, and the stubborn cherishing of one’s sins.
The modern believer has every advantage over Job. He has the Gospel of Yahshua, written down through the eyes of several witnesses. He has the teachings of Paul, and James, and Peter. He has the Book of Revelation, the definitive prophecy of last days. He has the very Spirit of Yahshua, poured out after His resurrection in a more glorious way than ever before. He is very unlikely to be as surrounded by the distractions of material wealth, and yet, the Church of Yahshua is a little flock, largely unknown to the world.
Those who teach that wealth is a blessing, and a sign of favor from Yahweh, are obviously incorrect. Those who teach that wealth is a curse, and that only the poor and scarcely comfortable are blessed, they are also incorrect. One’s financial situation is a fact of life, like what country one was born in, what educational opportunities one has had, or the color of one’s eyes. None of this is a statement of spiritual success; all have sinned and come short of the glory of Yahweh. All have need for, and access to, a loving Savior who died so that we might live. None have an excuse to deny the Prince of Life, and if someone like Job can have confidence in his everlasting inheritance, so may anyone else. Job is well-known for setting an example of patience and endurance. He may also be cited as an example of faith despite great temptations as well.
Job was wealthy in the things of this world, and also in character and faith. It is possible. It is easy, for it is said of our Father, “Ah Lord Yahweh! Behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee.” (Jer 32:17) As we depend on our Father for our success, we shall certainly have it. As we have said, it is easier (even for the wealthy) to be saved than to be lost.
Those who believe that wealth itself is sinful do not often read the entirety of the statement of Yahshua regarding the rich. Here is more of the passage: “Then said Yahshua unto His disciples, ‘Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.’
“When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’
“But Yahshua beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Mat 19:23-26)
Remember, Yahshua was dealing with these same disciples who saw a blind beggar and asked if he or his parents had sinned for this to be the result. The disciples of Yahshua believed very much in a form of the prosperity Gospel, but Yahshua said these things that amazed them, that the rich, rather than being blessed by Yahweh as they would have supposed, were tempted in ways more extreme than those who knew their reliance on Yah’s mercy. But then, lest they go to the other extreme, and believe that wealth is a sin that automatically keeps its bearers from Heaven, He adds that it is possible for the rich to enter His Father’s Kingdom despite its seeming absurdity, because Yahweh can do all things. The balanced view, as is often the case, is the right one.
Every conversion is a miracle. Ever sinner’s soul is a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle. It is impossible for any carnal man, despite his wealth or poverty, to climb a Tower of Babel to Heaven. That is what sinners do, when they seek salvation through any means but Yahshua. They are building a tower to Heaven, seeking to escape judgment. When they seek security in their wealth, in their social status, through their children, in their jobs or their relationships, they are trying to rise above their sin without the forgiveness of the Redeemer. They are only setting themselves up for a greater fall, when lightning from Yahweh strikes them down.
The kind of wealth that the Scriptures warn against does not appear only in the form of gold and silver, but as any idol in which men may put their trust rather than their Heavenly Father. Job’s wealth was not an idol to him, and this is why his testimony has been preserved as a blessing to all generations.
So, can we finally answer the question, of what success looks like to the worshipper of Yahweh?
Well, it looks like this: “So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning, for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days. (Job 42:12, 13, 16, 17)
It also looks like this: “And when Yahshua had cried with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,’ and having said thus, He expired.” (Luke 23:46) I’ve altered that verse a little from its English reading in the King James’ Version, which says He “gave up the ghost.” In Greek this is a single word that means “breathed out,” in this case His final breath – with no potentially confusing mention of ghosts or separate spiritual selves.
But those are both success. Of Yahshua’s disciples, John would live a very long life, while others were slain much earlier for their faith, traditionally in various parts of the world, while doing their duty as evangelists. Success does not “look” like anything specific that can be measured according to a common scale. Success does not require wealth, or poverty, or anything other than a commitment to righteousness, and a divinely miraculous obedience to that commitment.
The saint succeeds in imitating Christ, in doing what He would do were He in their circumstances. We have talked about this in a few studies before… what would the modern Christian have done if he had actually met Christ in the first century? Would he have loved an unknown carpenter’s Son who taught love for others, self-denial, and sacrificial holiness? Would he have loved a Man branded a criminal by Roman law, and sentenced to a painful and humiliating death? Without centuries of tradition declaring that Yahshua is indeed the Messiah foretold by the prophets of Yahweh, would they have acknowledged Him at all when He passed them in the streets?
Those with the right character and Spirit would have known Him. They would have heard His words, and it would have fallen on them like rain on dry ground. John the Baptist knew Yahshua from the womb. The priest Simeon and the prophetess Anna recognized Yahshua as Christ when He was brought to the temple for His circumcision in the second chapter of the Book of Luke. But many who think that they are followers of Christ are followers only of the tradition, and not the Person. They have not known Him; therefore, whether they are wealthy or poor, whether they live a very long time, or die young, whether they are solitary or have many friends, they cannot experience a life of true success.
The goal is the character of Yahshua. The goal is to be as Paul was, in this: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1Cor 11:1) “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:11-13)
This is a testimony of the divine character. Whether in abundance or need, we are content, we are receivers of the blessings of our Father. If we are wealthy, we are not greedy or proud. If we are poor, we are not self-pitying or envious. Whatsoever we are, in whatsoever state, the characteristics of Yahshua’s person dwell within us, and are manifested to the world through us. That is true success.
All states are a way of displaying Christ to the world, and also of refining and testing His character according to our own growing understanding. The wealthy have the opportunity to be generous, and the poor have the opportunity to learn trust and patience. The rich man does not often feel the need to trust in God, hence the statement from Christ about the eye of a needle. The poor man does not often feel gratitude for his lot in life, hence the encouragement from Yahshua, “Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
With Yahweh all things are possible. Job was very wealthy, but he possessed a character that was perfect, like Noah and Abraham, for his particular covenant and understanding of righteousness.
The success of Job lay not in his possessions, his children, his long life, or the respect of his peers. His success lay in his character, that he “feared God and eschewed evil,” that he cared for the spiritual well-being of others, that he sacrificed on behalf of those around him, and that he praised Yahweh’s name even under severe distress and the temptation to submit to falsehood. Job’s success is that he endured the trial brought upon him because of the accusations of Satan, and proved Yahweh’s confidence in him to be right. Job’s success is that he prophesied his own future, saying, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:25, 26)
Job was among our brethren, the prophets, like Paul, who knew that a crown of righteousness awaits him when Yahshua returns. (2Tim 4:8) And we, the Eli-Yah people, are no less prophets, when we claim the promises that Yahweh has miraculously revealed to us. We are prophets indeed when we say, “I shall not fail nor be discouraged. I have gained the victory. I shall be with my Father forever.” That testimony, and the fulfillment of that testimony in the name of Yahshua, is true and everlasting success.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“Angels are waiting to see if we embrace opportunities within our reach of doing good – waiting to see if we will bless others, that they in their turn may bless us. The Lord Himself has made us to differ, – some poor, some rich, some afflicted, – that all may have an opportunity to develop character. The poor are purposely permitted to be thus of God, that we may be tested and proved, and develop what is in our hearts.” [Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 28]
“Satan is offering to every soul the kingdoms of this world in return for the carrying out of his will. This was the great inducement he presented to Christ in the wilderness of temptation. And so he says to many of Christ’s followers. If you will follow my business methods, I will reward you with wealth. Every Christian is at some time brought to the test which will reveal his weak points of character. If the temptation is resisted, precious victories are gained. He must choose whether he will serve Christ or become a follower of the deceiver, and a worshiper of him.” [The Signs of the Times, February 24, 1909]
“The talents of wealth, station, and intellect, are given of God in trust to man for his wise improvement. These varied trusts he has distributed proportionately to the known powers and capacities of his servants, to every one his work.” [The Review and Herald, June 21, 1877]