Pam Padgett - teacher
Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,
and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in
order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more
than can be numbered.
A few days ago my elderly neighbor
told me that his youngest son was being promoted to the rank of brigadier
general in the Air Force. My neighbor was obviously very proud of his son, telling how hard his son had worked to get to this point. And he mentioned that his wife, who died a few years ago,
would have been "ecstatic" over this latest achievement. (I remembered hearing his wife a couple years before her death
proudly telling of the success attained by each of their children... one
had risen in the ranks of the police department in a large city,
another was an attorney of some notoriety, and the youngest was advancing
in the military.)
But when we think of what God has done, the achievements of man which exalt man and bring pride in man are seen to be nothing.
God created all things ... creating and setting the stars, moon, sun in the sky
... creating plants, animals, man ... creating and controlling rain, winds, snow, fire ... even creating everything needed by living things to live and grow, such as food and water.
No man can do these things, no matter how successful that man may be among men.
And no man can save his own soul. Only through the way God has provided, by what Jesus Christ has done, can anyone be saved.
Success and fame are very temporary. Status achieved is often soon
forgotten. (At one time I had gained some status as a
programmer at FedEx, yet now few people there would even remember my
name.) Success on this earth is fleeting and futile.
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of
man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof
falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
Rather than striving to attain success among men, we are called to lay down our lives in this world and seek to hear from
God and to do HIS will. Doing the will of God has eternal reward.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or
what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man
shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall
reward every man according to his works.