A. Welcome to Friend Day, if you are visiting with us, we consider you an honored guest and hope that your experience here with us today is encouraging, inspiring, and helpful.
1. Today’s sermon is the sixth sermon in our series called “Counterfeit Gods – Defeating the Idols that Battle for Our Hearts.”
2. We have been learning how easy it is to allow other things, even good things, to become our god and take the rightful place of the one true God in our lives.
3. Some of the counterfeit gods we have been discussing are the god of food, the god of sex, and last week, the god of entertainment. (past sermons can be listed to on our website, or watched on Facebook and YouTube)
4. Today, we are going to talk about the god of success.
B. Let me start with a humorous story from this month’s Reader’s Digest.
1. A wife began to be really annoyed by her husband’s constant boasting about his promotion to vice president of his company.
2. His wife said, “Look, being a vice president isn’t that special. They even have a vice president of peas at the supermarket.”
3. Not believing his wife for one second, the husband called the supermarket and demanded, “Get me the vice president of peas!”
4. The clerk who answered the phone asked, “Certainly, which vice president of peas do you want to speak to: Fresh, canned, or frozen?”
C. How many of you played the grade school game called “king of the hill” or “king of the mountain”?
1. When I was a young boy we would play it in winter time on the big snow banks at the end of drive ways or parking lots.
2. The object of the game was to get to the top of the snowbank and to push everybody down who might try to take away your position on top.
3. Perhaps you have discovered that trying to become the “king of the hill” isn’t just a childhood game we play, but it often ends up becoming our life’s pursuit – to do whatever it takes to make it to the top – to become a success, however we might define it.
D. The god of success has no problem finding followers.
1. The god of success is attractive, compelling and charismatic.
2. The god of success enters into our everyday rat-race world and shows us what life could be at the top of the heap.
3. And what the god of success sells is hard to ignore – he offers us the applause and envy that makes life seem sweet.
4. The god of success whispers the line that is as old as the garden of Eden: “You can run the whole thing; it’s your life, so why shouldn’t you be at the wheel and determine your direction?”
5. The god of success plays on the most basic problem of humanity – pride.
6. The god of success is all about offering personal achievement and rewards that we can amass for ourselves.
7. And the god of success offers very convenient ways to keep score: titles after our names, the numbers in our bank account, the special social circles we can run in, or the square footage of our home.
E. Now, before we go any further, allow me to clarify that striving for success is not wrong in and of itself.
1. There is nothing wrong with setting goals, and working hard to reach them.
2. And there is nothing wrong with trying to be the best you can be.
3. As with all of the counterfeit gods, the problem comes when the thing becomes our focus and our life.
4. When the thing takes a place in our lives that belongs only to God.
5. And just like the other counterfeit gods we have examined, there is a bait-and-switch effect that goes on – they promise one thing but deliver another.
6. The god of success promises purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction, but delivers emptiness and endless striving for self-worth.
F. Listen to pop legend Madonna as she describes the seduction of success in her own words.
1. She said, “I have an iron will, and all of my will has always been to conquer some horrible feeling of inadequacy…I push past one spell of it and discover myself as a special human being and then I get to another stage and think I’m mediocre and uninteresting…Again and again. My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. And that’s always pushing me, pushing me. Because even though I’ve become Somebody, I still have to prove that I’m Somebody. My struggle has never ended and it probably never will.” (Vanity Fair, April 1991)
2. For Madonna, success is like a drug that gives her a sense of consequence and worth, but the high quickly wears off and she needs a repeat dose.
3. She must prove herself again and again, and the driving force behind this is not joy, but fear.
G In the 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire, one of the main characters is an Olympic sprinter who clearly articulates the same philosophy as Madonna.
1. When asked why he runs, he says that he does not do it because he loves it, rather he says, “I’m more of an addict…”
2. Later, before running the 100 meter Olympic event, he says: “Contentment! I’m 24 and I’ve never known it. I’m forever in pursuit and I don’t even know what it is I’m chasing…I’ll raise my eyes and look down that corridor, four feet wide, with ten lonely seconds to justify my whole existence…but will I?”
H. Mary Bell, a counselor who works with high-level executives, says: “Achievement is the alcohol of our time…An achievement addict is no different from any other kind of addict.” (From “Success and Excess” by Harriet Rubin, www.fastcompany.com/node/35583/)
1. In the end, achievement can’t really answer the big questions – Who am I? What am I really worth? How do I face death?
2. Success gives the initial illusion of an answer, however, the satisfaction quickly fades.
3. There is the initial rush of happiness that leads us to believe we have arrived, we have been included, we have been accepted, and that we have proved ourselves, but those feelings quickly vanish.
I. More than any of the other idols, the worship of personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are god, and that our security and value rest in our own wisdom, strength, and performance.
1. To be the very best at what you do and to be at the top of the heap, means there is no one like you – you are supreme!
2. Spiritually speaking, this is one of the most dangerous and deadly places a person can be – wrapped up in the god of me.
3. Let’s take a look at a couple of people in the Bible who had gotten wrapped up in the god of success and see what we can learn from them.
J. In Luke 18, Jesus had an encounter with a person described by three words: rich, young, ruler.
1. This was a man who had accomplished, achieved and accumulated much.
a. In many respects, he was the very definition of success.
b. And again, let me clarify and emphasize the fact that there’s nothing wrong with that, unless those were the things he was living for completely, and were his god.
2. This rich young ruler approached Jesus with a question: “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
a. On the surface, it sounds like a pretty good question, don’t you think?
b. But the Greek word for “inherit” can also be translated as “acquire” or “earn.”
c. That changes the question doesn’t it?
3. This rich young ruler is assuming that eternal life is something he can achieve.
a. For this rich young ruler, salvation is one more trophy, just another earned reward.
b. Worshiping the god of success isn’t just about secular accomplishments and commendations – it’s not just getting caught up with job titles and social status.
c. Surprisingly, the god of success can even lead us toward our own mastery of religious rule-keeping, leading to what we call self-righteousness.
4. The god of success suggests that we can save ourselves instead of depending on Jesus to do it for us.
a. This is certainly one of the reasons that many successful people have a hard time becoming followers of Christ – they don’t think they need Christ, because they can save themselves.
b. In God’s spiritual economy, a devoted disciple of Jesus must acknowledge our own helplessness and our ultimate need for a rescuer, a Savior.
c. Successful people have a hard time seeing and admitting to their need for help.
d. Bill Maher, the TV pundit, says this of the crucifixion: “I just don’t get it. The thought of someone else cleansing me of my sins is ridiculous. I don’t need anyone to cleanse me. I can cleanse myself.”
e. That’s why Warren Buffett, after donating 85 percent of his 44 billion dollars to charity, said, “There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.”
5. The god of success says that you can save up enough bucks, brownie points, box tops or Chuck E. Cheese tickets and redeem them at the pearly gates.
a. But that is not what God the Father says.
b. God the Father says that there are not enough deeds or donations to buy an ounce of the righteousness that we need.
c. God the Father says that the only way to be saved is to declare our spiritual bankruptcy.
6. Getting back to the rich young ruler, Jesus answered his question, saying: “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” (Lk. 18:20)
a. I’m sure that’s exactly the answer that successful young man wanted to hear.
b. The young man quickly replied saying that he had kept all those commands since boyhood.
c. I’m sure the young man felt good about the fact that he had kept all the rules – he was successful again!
7. In Mark’s version of the story, he tells us that Jesus looked at the rich young ruler with love as he replied, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mk. 10:21; Lk. 18:22)
a. This is not something that Jesus required of everyone He encountered, but Jesus could see into the heart of this rich young successful man and could see that the Lord God was not on the throne of this man’s life, but that the god of success was in charge and the trophies of success were of the highest value to him.
8. The Bible says: But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Luke 18:23)
a. It doesn’t look like the young man took much time to consider Jesus’ command, but likely abruptly turned and walked away with a saddened heart.
b. In one sense, this verse is funny – why did he go away sad? Because he was rich?
c. He went away sad, because he had too much to give up.
d. He owned so much that it owned him.
9. I doubt he stayed around to hear these words of Jesus: Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24-25)
a. We notice that Jesus didn’t run after the young man to say, “Hey wait a minute, don’t leave, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement that is more acceptable to you.”
b. The apostle Paul is a good example of someone who was willing to give up all of his successful achievements to follow Jesus.
c. To follow God, we must be willing to lay aside all we have put our faith in, and put our faith only in God and in what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross.
10. Jesus gave the rich young ruler the opportunity to become a poor young servant of Jesus.
a. We don’t even know this young man’s name, nor do we know what became of him.
b. Had that young man taken Jesus up on his offer, perhaps there would have been 13 apostles rather than 12, and 5 Gospels rather than 4.
K. The second biblical person’s story I want to call our attention to is found in 2 Kings 5.
1. The man’s name was Naaman, and he was one of the most successful and powerful men in the world in his time.
a. Naaman was the commander of the army of Aram, which today we call Syria.
b. More than just being an Army commander, Naaman was highly regarded by the King and the King relied on Naaman in many ways.
c. Because of his high position and his battlefield successes, Naaman was a man of honor, wealth and was highly decorated.
2. But in spite of all his success, Naaman had a problem – he had leprosy.
a. A diagnosis of leprosy in Naaman’s day was comparable to the word cancer in ours.
b. Leprosy was a wasting skin disease that slowly crippled, disfigured, and finally killed its victims.
c. And being highly contagious, leprosy forced its victims out of society and into isolation.
d. So Naaman who used to be an insider in the highest circles, was likely now an outsider.
3. Naaman’s wife had a Jewish slave girl who told him about a great prophet in Israel who could cure him.
a. Desperate enough to grasp at that straw, Naaman set off to Israel, seeking a cure from Elisha the prophet.
b. But Naaman didn’t go on this quest empty handed, but took with him 10 talents of silver, 6 thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
c. Additionally, Naaman took with him a letter of reference from the king of Aram to the king of Israel which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:6)
4. So Naaman went right to the king of Israel, gave him the letter and offered him money.
a. Naaman expected that because of the money and the power behind the letter, the king of Israel would command the prophet to cure him, and Naaman would go on his merry way.
b. Naaman thought he could use his success to deal with his problems, but he didn’t understand that there are some things that only God can do in God’s own way.
c. The slave girl had told Naaman to go to the prophet, but that’s not how Naaman was used to getting things done – he was used to going to the man at the top, to the C.E.O.
5. The king of Israel was not happy about Naaman’s approach and his request.
a. The king of Israel tore his robe and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” (2 Kings 5:7)
b. The king of Israel feared that the Syrian king wouldn’t understand that Israel’s God cannot be commanded around or cannot be paid off or bribed.
c. And he feared that this might lead to an international conflict.
6. When Elisha heard that the king of Israel had torn his robe, he sent for Naaman to come to him.
a. So Naaman went to the home of Elisha, but Naaman ended up being offended by the way he was treated, or rather by the lack of the way he was treated.
b. Elisha didn’t even come to the door, but sent his servant with instructions for Naaman.
c. The Bible says: And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:10-12)
d. Naaman had expected that Elisha would take the money and perform some magic ritual.
e. Or, if Elisha didn’t take the money, he would at least demand that Naaman do “some great thing” to earn his healing.
f. Humorously, Timothy Keller suggests that “some great thing” might have been bringing back the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West, or to return the Ring of Power to Mount Doom.
g. Those would have been requests in keeping with Naaman’s self-image and worldview.
7. Naaman had to learn the lesson that all of us have to learn and that is that God is a God of grace, and the salvation that comes from God cannot be earned, but can only be received as a gift.
a. The command to “go wash in the Jordon seven times” was hard because it was so easy.
b. To do it, Naaman had to admit that he was helpless and weak and had to receive his salvation as a free gift through faith and obedience.
c. Like Naaman, we want to come to God on our own terms, saying, “Look at all I’ve done, or look at all I’ve suffered, and so I have earned and deserve my salvation.”
d. But all that God wants us to do is to look to Him and be washed.
e. There’s a phrase from an old hymn that says: “Lay your deadly ‘doing’ down, Down at Jesus’ feet. Stand in him, in him alone, gloriously complete.”
f. Naaman had to learn how to “lay his deadly doing down” and so do we.
8. Thankfully, in the end, Naaman went and dipped himself seven times in the Jordon and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
L. The idol of success cannot just be expelled, it must be replaced and the only thing or person of value and meaning to replace it with is the Lord Jesus Himself.
1. How can we break our heart’s fixation on doing “some great thing” in order to become someone important and heal ourselves from our sense of inadequacy, and in order to find our life’s meaning?
2. The answer is found in Jesus – only when we see what Jesus, our great Suffering Savior, has done for us will we finally understand why God’s salvation does not require us to do “some great thing.”
3. We don’t have to do some great thing, because Jesus already has.
4. Jesus did it all for us, and He loves us – that is how we know that our existence is justified and that we are valued and treasured.
5. When we believe in what Jesus accomplished for us in our minds, and when we are moved by what He did for us in our hearts, then begins the dissolving of the addiction we have to be a success at all costs.
M. Now, just as we have done with the other counterfeit gods, here are a few questions for introspection:
1. Question One: How do you define success?
a. What would have to happen for you to consider yourself successful?
b. Where did you come up with your definition?
c. Who set the standard?
2. Question Two: What drives your desire to be successful?
a. What is it that motivates you? To prove your worth, to receive kudos, or to bring glory to God?
b. Remember, goals of advancement in the world are not necessarily sinful unless they become idols.
3. Question Three: How often do you find yourself envying successful people?
a. Do you find yourself resentful or filled with envy?
b. Is it hard for you to celebrate the success of others?
4. Question Four: Will you embrace the mindset that being successful is hearing Jesus one day say: “Well done, good and faithful servant?”
N. Let’s end with Kyle Idleman’s devotional piece “Jesus My Purpose.”
The god of success whispered to us, “Don’t you want to be king of the hill?” “Which hill?” we asked. “Any of them. All of them.” He smiled.
And we pursued a life of climbing, always climbing. Up hills. Up corporate ladders. Up lists. Up food chains. Up social registers. This god never had to make his case for what he was offering.
But along the way, climbing, working, earning, and achieving became ends in themselves. It was no longer about what we could do, but about whom we could out-do. If we were honest we would have to say that it wasn’t for the Lord or even for others that we worked but for ourselves.
And we had several unhappy surprises. One was that we hurt people as we climbed over them or elbowed then down the hill. Another was that we were always weary from the effort. Not to mention always wary of challengers to the throne. And the greatest surprise was that the top of the hill wasn’t nearly as great as we thought it would be. The top of the hill ended up being a pretty lonely and disappointing place. We wondered if maybe we had the wrong hill.
And then we discovered one last hill. But this hill already had a King, along with three crosses standing on it. And he extends us a simple invitation: “Come and follow.” And as we follow him he turns success on its head. The first will be last and the last will be first. The greatest among you will be the servant of all. Consider others better than yourself. To find your life you must lose it.
And so now, we still care about success, but we define it very differently. He has become our purpose. We live for serving him, for knowing him, for pleasing him. That’s how we define success.
Resources:
gods at war, Kyle Idleman, Zondervan, 2013
Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller, Dutton, 2009
