S113P3 – Navigating prosperity: a focus on the eternal

Job 21:7-13

Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; their cow calves without miscarriage. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

Long ago, I came up with a great plan for distributing luxury automobiles.  Many people like myself love beautiful cars, but we must admire them from afar.  Only those who can afford to pay the market price will drive one off the lot.  When I see a car that turns my head, all I know for sure is that the owner is of sufficient means to own it.  Those cars are not distributed by character but by wealth, and I have known some owners who were less than admirable people.  I thought them undeserving of the blessing, and it made me wish that good nature was the requirement for getting one’s hands on the newest dream car.  Then, we would know that those who have been blessed with those cars have deserved their blessing. 

There is something funny about the temporary prosperity we see many enjoy in this world.  We might think that those who are of means and have everything they need are simply blessed by God.  We might ask God why we have not been showered with such favor as well.  The truth, however, is that this apparent prosperity is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor or a sign that someone is walking in his ways.  Many will appear to have it all in this world but will leave here and be left with nothing.  Professional and financial success may go far in this temporary world, but this is the only place where it matters.  Some will prosper in every way we can see but never come to know God and never acknowledge him, thus leaving their prosperity empty.

The sun rises and sets on everyone, the godly and the wicked.  No one is more deserving of tomorrow than any other.  No one deserves the Maserati more than another because the car itself is no sign of true prosperity.  The prosperity that comes from God rests in his eternal nature.  Even when He allows us to prosper in some temporary fashion, there is an eternal and spiritual reason behind that.  We know true prosperity because it transcends this momentary world and touches on the infinite.  True prosperity contains an element that will last when this order of things has passed away.  Without that component, we cannot count it as prospering at all.  Father, show us how to find the eternal aspect of every worldly success and treasure You allow us to enjoy here.