Key Bible Verse: Fear God and obey his commands for this is the duty of every person (Ecclesiastes 12:13b). Bonus Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26

A flight attendant I met on a recent business trip was baffled by her husband's erratic moods. "He loves his work," she explained. "Sometimes he'll work 12 hours a day for months. And then, boom—he'll mope around for weeks.

"I ask him what he wants, and he can't tell me." She said she had no idea what to do for this man who had wealth, a job he always wanted, a beautiful home, and two children. "What's his problem?" she asked.

The problem is "success sickness": always wanting more but never being satisfied when we get it. Lots of affluent men today have pursued the dollar with passion, reading their Bibles for comfort but their Forbes for direction. Men who pursue the wrong goals find that achieving them doesn't really matter.

Solomon was such a man. He achieved every goal he set. Yet, after seeking success the world's way, Solomon was driven to conclude, "Everything is utterly meaningless!" Success bored him.

Actually, when Solomon centered his life on God, he drew a second conclusion [recorded in today's Key Bible Verse]: Success that matters is built on relating to God through surrender, service, and self-denial. It produces happiness, contentment, and significance.

—Patrick Morley in New Man

My Response: How would I define success?

Adapted from New Man (3-4/99) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, fill me with the abundant life promised in Your Word. Give me Your wisdom to live right.

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