“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” Proverbs 8:17-19

The world has a different definition of success than God. Jesus tells a parable about a wealthy man in Luke chapter 12 who had a bumper crop and an expanding business. To look at the man from the world’s point of view he was a big success. With a growing business and enough money to take it easy and to say to himself; “take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” Most of us would be envious of this man’s situation…plenty of money, opportunity to travel, the best food and the best “things”. But God looks down over the battlements of Heaven and declares the man a fool.

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” The man had riches but not durable riches. He had wealth but he lacked something “better than gold, even better than fine gold and choice silver”. He lived and died without God. He didn’t seek God early, as a matter of fact he left God out of his plans altogether. The man thought success was having financial security, in having “much goods” {things}. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” He thought one thing but God thought another. He probably thought religion was for suckers and weak people. He may have made fun of those who were Christians. He may have thought he would consider God later in life. It doesn’t really matter what he thought, God labeled him a fool. Jesus didn’t think the man was successful. He said the man was too busy in life laying up treasures for himself to think about God and eternity. I am afraid most of us will go through life supposing “things” will make us happy, that this fleeting life is what really matters…believing the world’s motto that “He who dies with the most toys wins”. A lot of people have been “choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” {Luke 8:14} Jesus said; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” {Matthew 6:33} The fruit of Gods wisdom is better than anything the world can offer. Whose wisdom are you seeking?

Shawn