Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

People of God, how do you define success, blessing or progress? The world measures success by material things. For example, we think someone is successful because of their stature, their financial resources or their position in society. I’m not saying that such things cannot be a sign of success, but we should not use worldly definitions or yardsticks knowing that the devil wants us to misinterpret spiritual things in a natural manner. If we use material measurements to define success, which of the Apostles in the Bible would be considered successful? Many of them had nothing material to boast of in the natural and many were martyred for their faith.

God is Spirit. His reward for His children is primarily spiritual – something that cannot be measured materially or discerned naturally. Therefore, as Christians, we should not be disappointed because our expectations are spiritual, and God will never let us down. In the same way, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of placing material expectations on spiritual investments – sowing to the Spirit and expecting visible, material manifestations. While Godly principals in the workplace may pave the way for material prosperity, that should not be our focus. As Christians, we work for a good name, not for money, but for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16). Remember, we don’t have the right to determine the way in which God rewards us when we engage in spiritual activities or assignments. So, as Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me to appreciate the spiritual blessings you have freely given to me. Thank You for the assurance of salvation, for the knowledge of saving grace, for the ability to hold the Word of God in my hand and read it. Help me to sow seeds to the Spirit without material expectation, knowing that Your reward is far greater than anything this world can offer. In Jesus’ name, amen.