The World Is Not Enough

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

– Philippians 4:12

You’ve heard the old saying about success: It’s lonely at the top.

And for some people, achieving success and celebrity status can turn out to be a bit too lonely. Let’s look at Howard Hughes’ example.

Hughes was one of the richest men in the world when he died in 1976. An extremely successful businessman and founder of Hughes Aircraft Company, the Houston, TX, native was also an aviation pioneer, movie producer, and real estate developer — and that’s not to mention his considerable financial stakes in mining and communications.

In so many ways, he was a man of the world.

And he was no doubt a huge success by the world’s standards. But during his final years, Hughes became a recluse plagued by paranoia and an extreme fear of germs. Wracked with pain caused in part by injuries suffered in a plane crash, he eventually died of kidney failure. Perhaps it was no coincidence that this man of the world left his worldly existence while flying to Houston!

Hughes’ story isn’t typical, and it’s unlikely that most of us will become billionaires any time soon. But his example does point to the pitfalls of living for worldly success.

Striving to climb the ladder of success seems to be engrained in many of us. We want a bigger house, a better job, and the latest smartphone. And above all, we need to impress others. It comes down to our personal world of power, fame, and advancement. Ultimately, it’s all about us.

It’s hard to believe that we have it all so backward. According to the Bible, there’s no such thing as a self-made man or woman. Everything that we have — our money, possessions, job, and health — is due to God’s generosity. He gives it to us freely, and he can also take it away without notice.

Likewise, our Creator has a much different definition of success. So, instead of living self-centered lives, Christ-followers should celebrate him by doing the most good in the world with the talents and resources we’re given. It turns out that it's our faithfulness to God that’s the real gold standard of success.

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Jesus asked his followers. “Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Those are tough questions that we need to consider. But from God’s perspective, having it all in this world turns out to mean having nothing at all.

 

 

Don’t Tempt Me

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

– Matthew 26:41

If you’re a current or former smoker, no one has to tell you how hard it is to quit the habit. As the famous author and humorist Mark Twain put it: “To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I have done it a thousand times.”

The same thing goes with Christ-followers when it comes to temptation and sin. Even though we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior — and asked him for forgiveness and received it — we still tend to fall back into those same behaviors that we thought were left far behind.

What’s the problem? Doesn’t the Bible say that becoming a Christ-follower makes us a new creation?

Indeed, it does. But let’s remember that our transformation is a work in progress that runs on God’s timetable. That often means it’s happening little by little, day after day. What’s more, the pathway along our faith-journey is narrow, twisting, and full of unexpected hairpin curves. And when we don’t keep our eyes on the destination, we often end up in a ditch.

But we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus even told his disciples to expect bumps and potholes in the road. 

"Things that cause people to sin are bound to come,” Christ explained. “But woe to that person through whom they come.”

Let’s also consider a life-lesson taught by the apostle Paul — the Christ-follower who wrote much of the New Testament. In his 2,000-year-old lament that still rings true to modern-day readers, Paul complains that he continues to do the very things he despises. And at the same time, he fails to do the things he knows he should accomplish. So, here’s the obvious question: If one of history’s greatest Christians had so many problems with sin and temptation, what hope is there for us?

Paul’s struggles were nothing less than spiritual warfare — the same ugly conflict that we all fight every day in one way or another. But he has some good news for us that we’ll find in Romans 8:1:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

That means we’re free from sin’s power, and we don’t have to accept its dominance in our lives. Ultimately, it comes down to our faith in Jesus and his sacrificial death for us on the cross. And when we slip up and give in to temptation, we can freely ask him for help and forgiveness. He’s the only one who was worthy to pay for our sins, shortcomings, and mistakes — past, present, and future.

Operation Deception

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

– Proverbs 12:22

“With lies you may go ahead in the world,” says the Russian proverb, “but you can never go back.”

This saying reminds us of the importance of credibility and character. And it’s also a sobering message to the press. In late 2022, Gallup — the global analytics and advice firm — reported that just 7% of Americans have "a great deal" of trust and confidence in the media, and only 27% have "a fair amount." Meanwhile, 28% of U.S. adults say they have little confidence, while 38% have absolutely none in newspapers, TV, and radio.

Once we've lost our credibility through lies, deception, and betrayal, how can we ever retrieve it? That’s the tough question King Solomon poses through Proverbs 11:3: “People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty.” And there happen to be several ways that we can hurt ourselves and others through our questionable words and deeds. For example, flattery is a form of lying since it tells people what they want to hear — regardless of its veracity. We can also be dishonest through exaggeration. Likewise, cheating (or fudging the truth so we come out on top) is a particularly serious issue since it can impact personal and business relationships. What’s more, we also lie when we break our promises. Jesus touched on that by directing his followers to avoid the common practice of using God’s name to lend credibility to their words.

Dishonesty is like a heavy chain that weighs us down and holds us back. But the truth — and the clear conscience that accompanies it — is liberating. Of course, walking the walk after talking the talk can be difficult. And conveying honesty and integrity can even cost us something in certain situations. As Christ-followers, however, we must always reflect the words and deeds of our Creator, who’s always faithful and dependable:

“God is not a man, so He doesn’t lie,” we read in Numbers 23:19. “He’s not human, so He doesn’t change his mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?”

That’s what the Bible says about Him. So, whenever we’re tempted to tweak the truth to get ahead or avoid a difficult situation, let’s take a moment to consider what our words and deeds say about us.

Crossing the Finish Line

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

– Ephesians 6:12

If you’re into long-distance running, you’re probably familiar with The Wall — that barrier of mental and physical fatigue that athletes train for years to overcome. If successful, they’ll reach the finish line with power left to spare. Meanwhile, their unprepared competitors will drop out of the race in exhaustion and defeat.

As Christ-followers, we face our own barriers as we strive to live the ways that God desires. For example, while fighting to keep pace along our faith-journey, we battle against our natural tendencies to do what’s wrong (“sin”). We fail to follow Jesus’ guidance for loving our neighbors, helping the disadvantaged, and honoring God. And we’re also tempted to return to our old me-first lifestyle.

It’s a real struggle between the selfish stuff we know we shouldn’t do versus the ultimately world-changing things we can and should do. And as with any ongoing struggle, fatigue eventually ensues. The apostle Paul describes this state as internal warfare that pits good against evil. And through his own initiatives, he knew he’d certainly lose the battle. But Paul had a dynamic weapon that assured his ultimate victory — something that’s also available to you and me.

It’s called the Holy Spirit, which is God’s power in every believer. Think of it as that personal force that enables us to do or say the things we never could before, overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, and generally do the impossible. In fact, the Bible says it’s the same power that raised Jesus from the dead after his crucifixion.

If you’re a Christ-follower, let the Holy Spirit empower you, make the most of your life, and take you the whole distance along your faith-journey. Be alert to his teachings and leadings, and understand that they can come from just about anywhere. It might be a Bible passage that reveals itself with new meaning. Or maybe it’s a spiritual truth that arises through a discussion at your Bible study. Moreover, the Holy Spirit can speak through a conversation with a friend, relative, or stranger — or even out of random circumstances in the workplace. 

Do you have the Power you need to make it across the finish line in this long-distance race called life? It’s closer than you think. And all you have to do is ask!