MEASURING SUCCESS BY MONEY AND FAME: A DANGEROUS DECEPTION

 Your family is under a covenant of divine preservation because of the anointing of God's favour upon you.

Good -Life Devotional: 

MEASURING SUCCESS BY MONEY AND FAME: A DANGEROUS DECEPTION

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi 

   Measuring success by how much money and fame a person has makes one vulnerable to becoming a tool in Satan’s hand. Scripture warns clearly against this mindset. In 1 Timothy 6:4–5, Paul exposes teachers who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. He lists the fruits of this error: envy, strife, railings, and evil surmisings. The Greek phrase hypónoiai ponērai (ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί) means wicked suspicions and corrupt assumptions, attitudes that poison relationships and fracture society. When wealth becomes the yardstick of spirituality, the church and nation become morally sick.

Jesus Christ warned against this deception in Luke 12:15, teaching that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. 

     True wealth is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).   Revelation 3:17 further describes those who claim to be rich apart from Christ as spiritually poor, blind, and miserable. This describes much of the African church context, including Nigeria, where prosperity is often promoted without holiness, repentance, and character.

Ironically, Africans are making more money yet becoming poorer in values.    

    Nations that invest in moral capital—truth, justice, discipline—often become wealthier even with fewer natural resources (Proverbs 14:34). The Kingdom of God is not measured by material accumulation but by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). While God blesses the righteous materially (Proverbs 10:22), believers are warned to avoid teachers who equate fame and riches with divine approval (Matthew 7:15–20).

    A nation is only as rich as its investment in morality. True success is conformity to Christ, not the size of one’s bank account.

  In our daily prayers we should seek a healthy appetite for God's word and contentment and godliness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to overcome poverty.

+2348035536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com