Our monthly ministry update for February is now available.
View our weekly devotional archives.

Have a Cup of Coffee

I frequently address groups of men, some of whom are highly successful businessmen, community leaders, and/or professional athletes.  They're at the top of their fields and often have all the comforts that wealth can afford. Most of them truly seem to enjoy their success.

Because I’ve worked with guys like this before and regularly review the words from King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes, I’m not surprised how deeply many of them respond when I talk about the difference between success and spiritual significance.

As you may recall, I started teaching biblical principles about this topic to a group of men from our area on Wednesdays.   I’ve seen these guys begin to understand the importance of faith, family, and building a legacy.  It is so encouraging to see people find significance in living a purpose-driven life that glorifies God.

I recently read a story from Michael Josephson about Alfred Nobel. He states, “Invariably, I see knowing nods when I describe Alfred Nobel's disillusionment when he read his own obituary that was printed by mistake after his brother died. Although it was complimentary, describing him as a brilliant chemist who made a fortune as the inventor of dynamite, he was struck by how hollow and inconsequential his accomplishments seemed as the summation of one's life.  Determined to leave a more worthy legacy, he established the Nobel Prizes to acknowledge great human achievements.

Mr. Nobel realized there's a transitory quality to success, but immortality in significance. A life devoted to attaining personal goals can be admirable and satisfying, but it can be enormously enriched when we use our talents and time to improve the lives of others.

In his book, Living a Life That Matters, Harold S.Kushner wrote, ‘Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it.’ If we realize this before it's too late, we're less likely to dishonor our families and the legacy of our lives with dishonesty or selfishness. Success just isn't enough.” 

James, the half brother of Jesus, reminded us,  “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’  As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”  James 4:13-17

Clearly, God uses and blesses successful men and women who have their priorities in line.  We honor and are very grateful to the successful leaders God has chosen to support the work of this ministry.  Many of the apostles also were indebted to supporters and people who God gifted with the ability to make money.   The issue for all of us to consider is that of being too caught up in the trappings of success that we loose our focus on God. 

King Solomon was so focused on building his kingdom that he forgot about God’s Kingdom.  He sold out his soul to serve false gods.  Read part of King Solomon’s lamenting over his failure to live a life of spiritual significance.

"A solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, ‘Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?’ More smoke. A bad business. It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped." King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

 “’Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher….. ‘Everything is meaningless!’ to be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep God’s commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Selected verses from Ecclesiastes 12

Some of my greatest regrets are when I’ve endeavored to try and be important rather than do what’s important.  God wants us to do what’s important (significant) so He can bless us and those impacted by our efforts.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.  Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:  "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.