Question: Where Do You Stand On The Belief That If A Person Is Successful In Business And Other Areas Of Life It Means They Will Be Equally As Successful As A Minister Of Christ?
Donald Bohanon: That is completely unbiblical, in fact, the reality is that if God is revealing his truths to you and you have a deeper understanding of God’s word than most others and you are failing in other areas of life it probably means God is calling you to a higher purpose to teach and lead others to him.
And in the case of the very elect, God will go as far as humbling you by stripping material things and worldly possessions from you if he has to, to make you listen and obey. To get you to the point where you have no choice but to obey and put absolute faith and trust in him.
There are examples of great men of God failing in other areas of their lives only coming to the realization later that it was all by God’s hand and according to God’s plan and purpose. And success in the ministry doesn’t necessarily mean having a big church full of blind followers and hypocrites who blindly follow men and their false teachings as opposed to following God and his word.
The true body of believers is comprised of very few individuals who are fully committed to God’s word and way of life. It’s referred to as the little flock in scripture. Not a great false church with great wealth comprised of blind followers and teaching false doctrines that conflict with God’s word.
The Bible says a good man’s steps are ordered by the lord Psalm 37:23-24. And when you consider the lengths and depths many successful people are going to achieve success in this life even going as far as selling their souls for money. Abusing and using others to get money, fame, and success.
And even going as far as allowing themselves to be sexually abused and violated and sexually violating and abusing others for money and success which many celebrities have done, etc. And also being full of pride and ego and believing that their success, wealth, and status determine that they should be praised and even exalted above God and his word and are worthy of God’s calling because of this. These kinds of individuals seek their own glory and praise in many cases, as opposed to ensuring God is praised and glorified.
God completely rejects individuals like that and they are of no use in service to God. God hates it because in comparison to putting men and their counsel above the counsel of God, it’s comparable to taking the advice of a retarded person, who was also born with down syndrome, and who later got into a car accident that resulted in severe brain injuries’ advice about physics over the advice of Albert Einstein for instance.
Not discounting the wretched spiritual and or moral conditions of such individuals in comparison to God and how that wretched spiritual condition corrupts every aspect of the individual and ensures they are completely untrustworthy makes it even more offensive to God. No shade or disrespect against the community of people with mental retardation or with down syndrome only using this as an analogy.
That kind of mindset is a fertile ground and foundation for Satan to operate. And in most cases, he is, because that mindset is created and cultivated by Satan. The individual who seeks his or her own glory that is. These are probably good indicators that they are not fit for God’s ministry if those things take precedence over serving and committing to God and his way of life. And if acquiring wealth takes precedence over God in their lives.
On the other hand, if an individual is completely unwilling to embrace such practices, loves to study and obey God’s word and has a deeper understanding of God’s word in comparison to others, and refuses to compromise with abominable forms of evil no matter what the price that person is more than likely being called by God and is more suitable for the ministry.
And God’s hand is probably operating powerfully in his life. God chooses the foolish things of the world, (those individuals men think God would never use or call) and the poor/weak things, and base/ lowly/ humble things, and things despised has he chosen.
And not necessarily because of some justifiable hate based on some evil they are doing but because they are naturally rejected by the world because Satan can see God’s hand and holy spirit operating in their lives so he stirs up hatred against them. Past worldly success doesn’t equate to a calling from God or favor from God or dictate that you would be successful and effective as a true minister of God. The opposite is true in many cases when you examine God’s word.
Psalm 37:23-24 King James Version
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 King James Version
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.