Vulnerability and Illusion of Power, Fame and Wealth

Power, wealth, and fame are the some of the factors, which are considered to be successful in our modern society. We put lot of our efforts, time, and energy to achieve these factors to be successful in our lives. Though it seems to be very attractive, enticing and captivating, it will soon end up in fleeting pleasure and makes you empty. Solomon, who has enjoyed all the pleasures of the world with incredible wealth, power and intelligence says in all his wisdom

"Everything is fleeting and meaningless .............under the sun".   

In other words, if we become self sufficient with our achievements and wealth and take God out of the picture, whatever great your achievement can be, whatsoever wealth you acquire, it will be meaningless and fleeting. Though God does not oppose us to be wealthy or to achieve great things as He is the source of all blessings, He wants us to seek Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and trust Him alone, who can satisfy our spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Though it is not evil to have wealth or power or fame, it makes you vulnerable to be self sufficient and turn away from God, if your heart is not right with God. There are many servants of God, who has been chosen by God, but failed to withstand against the temptations of power and wealth, yielded to the fleeting pleasures, turned away from God with tragic ending by ruining their lives. Jeroboam was one such example, whom God has chosen to be the king of Israel. Though he was very diligent and industrious and capable leader, he failed to trust in God and obey his commands. He started off well but ended up in a tragic manner. Initially, he did not chase after power and relied on God though everything around him seems to be contradicting to the promise he received from the Lord. After becoming a king, he failed to trust in God, started to be anxious in securing his power and life and set up a religion of his own convenience, misleading the people of Israel from the ways of God. Even though God gave him second chance to repent by sending a man of God to Jeroboam,  he rebelled against God instead of repenting from his sins, and eventually, lost his power, life and brought disaster on the people of Israel.

Even in our lives, God might have blessed us with lot of riches and blessings of the world. But our attitude towards the worldly riches reflects our relationship with God. Sometimes, we may feel self sufficient with all the riches God has given us and feel secured in our wealth and achievements, thereby failing to honor God with our lives. You don't even need to be a wealthy person to fall into the traps of worldly riches, you can be moderate in your economic status, but if your heart is not right with God, you may soon succumb to the traps of the worldly riches. God might have given us second chances or warned us to set right our lives, how are we responding to God's warning? Are we still rebelling against God or repenting from our sins ? God sent Samuel to confront Saul, but Saul did not admit and repent from his sins and lost track of God's purpose for his life. God sent Nathan to confront David, David was broken in his spirit and repented from his sins. Though David did great sins of murder and adultery compared to Saul and Jeroboam, God forgave David when he repented and called him "a man after God's own heart". No matter, how dreadful our sins are, God is willing to restore us, but are we willing to confess and repent from our sins ?  Let us examine our attitude towards the worldly riches and reflect on our relationship with Jesus lest we may lose track of our vision and fall into the temptations of wealth, fame and power.