Friday: Further Thought ~ Planning for Success
Further Thought:
“No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life and makes no provision for the unending future. … No man can lay up treasure in heaven without finding his life on earth thereby enriched and ennobled.” — Ellen G. White, Education, p. 145.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“That which lies at the foundation of business integrity and of true success is the recognition of God’s ownership. The Creator of all things, He is the original proprietor. We are His stewards. All that we have is a trust from Him, to be used according to His direction.” — Education, p. 137.
Because of the pressure to provide for our families, many times we think that our work is simply to provide an income. But as Christians, we also face doing our part in the great commission that Jesus gave to all His followers. After quoting this commission as found in Mark 16:15, Ellen G. White wrote, “Not that all are called to be ministers or missionaries in the ordinary sense of the term; but all may be workers with Him in giving the ‘glad tidings’ to their fellow men. To all, great or small, learned or ignorant, old or young, the command is given.” — Education, p. 264.
“We need to follow more closely God’s plan of life. To do our best in the work that lies nearest, to commit our ways to God, and to watch for the indications of His providence — these are rules that ensure safe guidance in the choice of an occupation.” — Education, p. 267.
Discussion Questions:
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For a Christian, a successful life is defined differently to what the world defines as "successful". For a Christian, a successful life is living a life that fulfils the Great Commission, living your life according to God's plan and will. Non-Christians view "success" very differently, and this usually involves an accumulation of great wealth, worldly possessions, power, high status, regardless of how these things were gained, whether ethically or not.
John the Baptist's life was not a "success" as defined by worldly standards. By Christian standards, John the Baptist's life was truly a success. John the Baptist lived his life according to God's will for his life. His life mission was to prepare the way for Jesus, here on earth 🌎. John the Baptist surrendered / submitted his life to God's plan and will. He fulfilled his life's mission. Our lives will also be successful if we surrender life to the will of God, to His purpose for our lives, which includes sharing the love of God to others irrespective of our profession, status or location in this world.
During our lifetime, one of the biggest financial hiccups we have experienced is the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008. That had implications even for those of us who are not into wealth creation. In particular, housing devalued, and superannuation funds lost money. It was a worrying time, particularly for those of us who were nearing retirement.
My financial adviser told me not to panic. "Decisions made in the heat of the moment are often bad ones". I did not have a lot of money at stake but I did have a superannuation fund (as required in Australia) and that fund was part of my strategy of not costing other people a lot of money when I could no longer work. Fortunately, I had specified a conservative approach to my fund's manager, and in the wash-up after the GFC, while we lost some value it was not as bad as it could have been.
Sometimes, in our discussion of personal financial management we overquote texts like:
The texts previous to this statement gives the appropriate context:
That does not mean that your retirement plan will appear by magic; rather that you will be given wisdom and understanding in the process.
There is a big difference between greed and having sufficient so that you are not a burden to others. And we do need the wisdom of the Lord to discern the difference.
Joseph laid up 7 years of plenty to prepare for lean years. And I recall the example of the ant in Proverbs 6:6-8. Only God knows how long the lean years will be.
What I learned from studying ‘Planning for Success’ was gratifying and reassuring. That which I called the ‘inner compass’ in an earlier comment, is the Holy Spirit’s guidance for a child or adult open to receiving His instructions. My parents taught their children to live according to that which our heavenly Father had declared to be ‘acts of righteousness’; but I did not know.
Just yesterday, I looked through little craft items my mom saved from when I was 4 or 5 years old, and found quite a few drawings of scenes of Jesus in the manger, surrounded by His parents; mostly of the crib and baby Jesus, and certainly a lot of angels. 🙂 I have no recollection about that time.
I always wondered about having a close relationship with my heavenly Father as a child, and it appears that my early religious exposure was more pronounced than I thought. My sister, brother and I attended a ‘Kindergarten’ between the age of 3 to 5. It was administered by the Protestant church and possibly free of charge based on space available. Neither my brother or sister developed a relationship with Jesus, though.
Grade School included a class for learning basic Catechism doctrine of either the Catholic or Protestant faith, and being 'confirmed' was the tradition that followed when one turned 14 years old. Again, all three of us were confirmed, but only I had developed a personal relationship with my heavenly Father by that time.
How best develop my sister and brother's future was well worked out between them and our parents. But for me, being one year younger, ‘planning for traditional success’ at age 14, did not have my whole-hearted support, though my parents certainly did everything to stir me in the right direction.
For reasons I now understand, my ‘inner compass’ had become the companion I had developed the closest relationship with, and my ‘planning for success’ became a spiritual quest trying to find the source of all righteousness. It took a good while of exploring other faiths only to come full circle when I became convinced that my heavenly Father was the only one trustworthy of my commitment to be my God. When I had studied the Scriptures, I reconfirmed my faith and trust in Him.
This time it was in full knowledgement of in Who’s hands I committed my life, and who it is that would 'plan for my success’. I am reassured that, as Timothy declares: "... for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day..." - 2 Tim. 1:12-14.
What's the measure
for success?
Money, joy,
love,
pleasure, peace?
Fulfil the will
of God.