Fame and Fortune… “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.” 1Kings 10:23
Fame and fortune facilitates fear, greed and discontentment. Unless you are intentional in your faith, generosity and gratitude you will become a culprit to casual Christianity. Affluence and comfort cause us to feel like we don’t need Christ. So, regardless of your level of success, stay desperately dependent on Jesus. Use fame and fortune for His Kingdom’s sake. He has blessed you mightily to bless others magnificently.
How is fame and fortune defined? It is relative, depending on your situation and your socioeconomic standard of living. Fortune for you may be transitioning from a five-figure to a six-figure income, or from a six-figure to a seven-figure salary. Fame could be the experience of being a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) President, City Councilman or Mayor. You may be the industry leader in your business or Chairman of the Board. People look up to you more than you realize, so use your authority and assets for the Lord.
Whatever season you find yourself, God has blessed you with influence and resources. How are you leveraging them for the Lord? Are you intentional in using your influence for God’s purposes? Do you have a plan to invest your riches in Kingdom initiatives? Use fame and fortune for faith-motivated projects and people. Pray about how your notoriety can forward the cause of Christ. Success is a platform for your Savior’s sake.
Lastly, be aggressively accountable with your time and money. Give trusted friends permission to ask you the hard questions. Perhaps they review your annual tax returns and quarterly review your calendar to assess if you are doing what you set out to do. We all do better when others are watching our every move. Do not allow autonomy to isolate you from accountability. The more success you enjoy, the more accountability you require. Are fame and fortune friends or foes to my faith? “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 9:22-23; Psalm 89:27; Matthew 12:42; Colossians 2:2-3
Transformational Living
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading?
How will I respond?
