Loser or Winner?
Theme of the Week: Aim High
Monday, August 18, 2008
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs" (Luke 12:30). Bonus Reading: Luke 12:29-34
When I became a missionary, my father told me it was a bad career move. He was right. I had a degree in engineering and an MBA and was then working at a well-paying job complete with a company car and expense account. To go into missions I took a 75-percent pay cut and left a comfortable Chicago suburb for the African nation of Namibia.
Many thought I was just stupid. That thought, I must admit, often crossed my mind as well. Today, in my forties, I own no property. From the world's point of view, I'm a failure. And if material comforts are a measure of God's favor, I'm a failure in the eyes of many Christians.
The pull to gauge my success on the basis of material considerations is powerful. It tests my faith to the core. But if I had five times as much money as I do now, owned a large home, and brought in a hefty salary, these would be immaterial to determining my spiritual success and the favor of God on my life. Material blessing and the favor of God are often inversely proportional. You can't look at a person's wealth and possessions and automatically conclude that he's favored by God.
—Victor Kuligin in Ten Things I Wish Jesus Never Said
My Response: How well do my measures of success align with biblical objectives?
Adapted from Ten Things I Wish Jesus Never Said (Crossway, 2006) by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Rechannel my ambitions, Lord, toward goals that demonstrate Your character and advance Your purposes.
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