Life is not about possessions or prestige or fame

Got no checkbooks, got no banks,
Still I’d like to express my thanks;
I’ve got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.
  – Irving Berlin

Even people (like the recent tragic story of Whitney Houston)—who have money, power, prestige, and everything they have been seeking in their careers - can have emotional problems, can be taken away from the blessings they have already, by the world’s allures. Hasn’t it become painfully obvious that no amount of money and prestige can prevent profound dissatisfaction and boredom, as well as psychosomatic disorders and drug addiction for millions of people? Even those who have been raised right, and been given all the proper “church upbringing” and an immense talent / giftedness—like Whitney Houston –can be lured away from the Way to the deception –and destruction - of the accuser.

To me, this is proof that money and power are not our need, that the human being cannot be satisfied by them. Time after time it comes to the public’s awareness that our needs cannot be met through what the world has to offer. Yet, again and again we see folks listening to the world’s siren call – tempting us to follow it’s dead end road of life. This is the way of fools.

It is natural to feel that a little status or recognition would not be unwelcome in addition to earning a good livelihood, yet all the world’s great religions teach us that getting something out of life, whether it is money or recognition or power or prestige, is not our real need. Giving to others as the basis for my life is my real need.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? { I would add parenthetically: or riches, fame, or outstanding success…}

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things {even the world’s riches and allures of wealth, fame and ego satisfaction}  - we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, {nor the world’s riches, successes, the esteem of others, or power trips, or fame and fortune}  nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For me, it is not suffering and tribulation that draws me away from God, but these things –the temptations of the riches of this world – draw me away… Suffering and trial have tended to draw me closer to Him.

It is the allure of the success and riches of this world that allow the Accuser to find a spot in my heart, and to tempt me to walk away from Christ, thinking I am able to live life on my own, without His guidance, without being “in yoke” with Him.

Oh Lord, help me through your still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, to learn this lesson, and may You stay with me, helping me to abide in You, able to endure in yoke with you, throughout the remainder of the days you bless me with.

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