Christian Success
An individual's subjective interpretation of success directly correlates with the general attitude of the society as a whole. Therefore, in a society where affluence and dominance have gradually become the universal standards for measuring a person's overall achievements in life, people tend to conform to the social norm and adopt the collective definition as their own. For that reason, numerous individuals aspire to succeed through diligence and perseverance, hoping to receive the exuberant social recognition, and accumulate wealth and power for their own disposal. Today, that mentality is the dominant driving force of society in the United States. Yet, according to the Gospel of Luke and various other books in the Bible, the modern perception of success conspicuously contradicts with biblical teachings, in which human success should emphasize in the glorification of God and His creations and not of the self. Today, the meaning of success reflects the pervasiveness of the ideologies of capitalism and materialism in U.S. society. Through either media or personal experience, people admittedly recognize the advantages behind the economic, social, and intellectual transcendence of others. This causal relationship proves to be most
Instead, they dedicate their life wholeheartedly for the purpose of glorifying God, for it says: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. However, for Christians, whether economic or social success, they are ultimately meaningless without the changing of one's heart and mind, for that is the only approach to attain true happiness. Fear and paranoia will invade their consciousness, forever shackling them with the constant need and vigilance of guarding their interests and success against foes who clandestinely seek for their wealth, including their friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, according to Luke's "Parable of the Rich Fool," God determines success not based on the amount of wealth attained but on how the wealth is used to glorify Him. " Success is becoming less of a personal standard but an ungodly social norm in which society unknowingly imposes upon individuals to follow. " To work for man only brings death, but working for the Lord brings eternal life. People brand them as models of success, because they have succeeded in what the majority of the populations have failed to achieve. "'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless-a miserable business!" People will start to realize that their master, namely money, power and fame, had long forsaken them, leaving them with nothing to hold on to but despair and anxiety. However, when they fail to receive earthly compensations or the desired social acceptance for their futile efforts, they eventually perish in utter dejection. According to Jesus, the underlying problem of modern perception of success is the overemphasis of worldly possessions in which God abhors greatly. On the other hand, even though society patronizes the poor for their unfavorable economic status, they nevertheless fulfill God's standard of success due to their richness in spirit, granting them entrance to God's heavenly realm. God's benevolence makes Him the protector of the poor and the oppressed; on the contrary, He resents those who are rich, successful and yet unrighteous. Solomon realized that the emptiness and loneliness of his existence was insatiable with merely his worldly possessions. Towards the end of the overachievers' myopic pursuit, like Solomon, after living and tasting the grandeur of their success, they will find themselves overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of their insubstantial achievements. Out of perfect love and mercy, God gave us life and provided for us, and it is for that reason that we should "offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is [our] spiritual act of worship.
Common topics in this essay:
Gospel Luke,
King Solomon,
Lazarus Luke,
Serving God,
,
God Money,
God Whatever,
According Jesus,
Fool God,
United States',
people live,
perception success,
modern perception success,
standard success,
wealth fame,
successful life,
people tend,
god's standard,
social norm,
heart mind,
glorification god,
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Acceptance Essays
