Elevated From the Pasture

There are many good things that come from success. Wealth, influence and prosperity are just a few I can think of off the top of my head. Unfortunately, all too often bad things can also creep in. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve watched become successful only to fall to pride and arrogance. Yep, they all that and a bag of chips!

We been exceptionally blessed in our business. God has opened doors for our company and made a path where none existed in a time and economy when many companies either outright failed or at best only survived. I had a conversation with a friend just the other day about how the Lord gets all the glory for our success.

We had no clue about cameras or any other video equipment let alone how to webcast days of live drag racing. The Lord had a plan, He put people in our path for us to learn from. He brought us work and an audience with no advertising and has allowed us to rise to the forefront of an emerging business, not because we are smarter or worked harder, but because we said “yes” to the path He has chosen for us.

Do you still have to get up and do the work? Yes. Do you still have to make smart decisions? Yes. Do you still need to be wise with how you spend your money? Yes. But more than anything you need to follow Him, seek His direction, allow Him to guide you and always give Him the glory. Ask yourself this question, whom do I choose to follow today, the Lord or the world?

Blessings

Elevated From the Pasture
by Os Hillman

Now then, tell my servant David, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel.” – 2 Samuel 7:8

Have you ever heard someone say, “He is a self-made millionaire”? They are stating that this person accomplished everything through his own efforts. His achievements were a result of his hard work and street smarts.

David was nearing the end of his life. The prophet Nathan was responding to David’s idea to build a temple where the Ark of the Covenant would stay. God reminded David of his roots and where He had brought him. God took David from the fields of pasturing sheep to pastoring a nation. God reminded David that He cut off all of David’s enemies. (David never lost a battle.)

Have you ever felt tempted to look at your accomplishments with pride as if you were the reason for your success? Have you ever thought your prosperity was due to your ingenuity? Has your material success been a testimony to others that God is the ruler of all aspects of your life, even the material side?

Joseph’s greatest test was not his temptation to be bitter against his brothers. It wasn’t the sexual temptation that came inside Potiphar’s house. It wasn’t even the discouragement of years of imprisonment for being wrongfully accused. It was the temptation of prosperity and ownership. Once he was elevated, he was given choices that he never had before. It was totally up to him as to which choice he would make. Stewardship reveals what we believe about God and ourselves.

Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity. -Oswald Chambers

Do you have a proper understanding of who you are? Do you understand that it is God who has given you the ability to work and achieve? He is the source of all good things. Ask God today if your life models this belief.