A few days ago, I was praying for Trump, that he would have the character to be a wholesome and happy man, even if his fame, wealth, and power all disappeared. As a person of character, it would be at least sad, if not downright twisted, if a man’s only happiness is dependent upon having fame wealth and power.
So, as I was praying that, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “Could you be happy if all fame wealth and power disappeared from you?” I replied, “Well, I have no fame wealth or power to disappear.” Then I felt that Holy voice again, asking something about what percentage of my being constantly works in search of those things. Now that stopped me in my tracks! It was a realization that there resides in me some part that is anxious about achieving a measure of fame, wealth, or power, which is most likely something I would deny that I am consciously seeking. It is not something you would ever hear me talk about, the desire to have worldly goods.
After that prayer, I continued in my devotional habit, wondering if I would find something in my reading for that day about the subject. I immediately read about old Isaac’s blessing on Jacob, Gen 27:28-29, and it was all about fame, wealth, and power! But we know the story; Jacob got none of that for the twenty years he served Laban. God eventually blessed him with the promises, but definitely remained in charge of the timing as Jacob was led through a lot of years of subservience, injustice and hard work. We could say, the Lord of all builds character before He blesses us with the world’s stuff.
Then continuing to read, I was beginning in Ephesians, and I found a list of New Testament blessings from that passage that stand in stark contrast to Jacob’s blessing: spiritual blessing, being chosen, holiness, being adopted, grace, redemption, forgiveness, and the knowledge of the mystery of His will. Not one thing about fame, wealth or power.
I’m not concluding that the blessings of the world are entirely evil, although we all know that money especially can be the root of all kinds of evil. I am hearing the emphasis of the Spirit of God for me at this time, to lay aside any striving or wishing for fame, wealth or power, and to remember the blessings that Jesus’ new covenant has granted us beyond measure, all of them incredibly freeing, and none of them carrying the potential to be exploited for evil.