What If I Become Rich and Powerful and Famous?

Aug 30, 2009Mark 7:1-23 James 1:17-27

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean'.
(Mark 7:15)

Thus, the possession of abundant wealth or the possession of power and authority in this world cannot in itself make a man sinful.

Suppose I have a high paying job and a high position in my work, these things do not make me worse as a Christian. Sounds common sense alright but it is true that there are Christians who actually are afraid of 'succeeding' in this world.

They have a peculiar kind of fear. Naturally, people strive to make better their living conditions and would rather be exceedingly rich than pitifully poor. These Christians we mention however fear becoming too big in this world thinking that they would become smaller in the eyes of God. Remember the camel who would easier pass through a needle's eye than a rich man to enter heaven?

So they worry about the queer burdens: of money, of lowering yourself when the world says you are actually up high, of losing sight of heaven and becoming of the world, etc.

It's true though that when you are rich, temptations become big, you have this risk of forgetting you are dependent on the Lord; and because of your power, the effects of your mishaps can be drastic, affecting many.

Yet the problematic part of being 'successful' comes only when you let what is inside change the good inside of you---when precious virtues become replaced with vice, when purity is covered with malice, when you begin to love success itself more than anything.

So Christians do your best for Him. He gave you the talents, the skills---your state in life.

Rewards may come. Recognition. Honors. Do not fear. After all, abundance and whatever is good has come from the Lord who loves. A man can only receive what is given him from heaven(John 3:27). He trusts that all these things will make you better and not worse.

Just keep yourself from being polluted by the world.