Spiritual Success

Spiritual Success

Mat 6:19-21 NIV - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Alexander cried when he heard Anaxarchus talk about the infinite number of worlds in the universe. One of Alexander's friends asked him what was the matter, and he replied: ‘There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered even one.’”

--http://www.e-classics.com/ALEXANDER.htm#18

It’s said that when Alexander the Great was told the number of worlds in the universe, he wept. He replied that there “are so many worlds, and [he had] not yet conquered even one.” I’ve often wondered about the state of worldly success. What happens when you become so successful that there is nothing left to conquer, or that your pursuits seem meaningless? Perhaps it is the point where man begins to address his spiritual needs once and for all. We often read books of past United States presidents and kings of ancient history reflecting on their lives in their old age. Many people of great power begin to speak about their faith and engage in philanthropic work. Perhaps this is what happens when man realizes worldly pursuits are in vain.

Thankfully, we don’t have to conquer the world to realize this. Jesus tells us in Matthew to “not store up for [ourselves] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Instead we are to “store up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

As Christians, God has called us to live for heavenly success, not worldly success. The greatest believers in history were never after fame and fortune and prestige: they were after the heart of Christ. They desperately wanted to bring glory to God, to help the oppressed, and to preach the Gospel in every way God gave them.

This is clearly demonstrated by Christ’s way of life. As a king, we certainly do not see Jesus pursuing worldly success. He calls us to “store up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven” because that is, in fact, just what he is doing on Earth. He is not building a physical empire. He is not allying himself with governors of the provinces of Rome, nor gathering a militia in which to stage a rebellion. There were religious sects at the time that did this, many of whose leaders claimed to be the Son of God. But Jesus understood the most invaluable lesson of success—it is only success to glorify God.

We always see Jesus preaching this message of heavenly success. We see Him obsessively repeating this business of “glorifying the Father” in everything He does and says. Why? Because spiritual success is about God. It is not about how we may receive pats on the back and be told how we are such wonderful people. It is not that others may look at us and see nobility. Rather, it is about others looking at us and seeing Christ Himself dying for their sins. This is the ultimate goal of our lives—we are mirrors of Christ. As mirrors, may we seek spiritual success that God may be glorified. Let us store up treasures in heaven, not in the vanity of earthly success. If you have been seeking worldly success rather than spiritual success, come to Christ today and ask Him to change your heart, that you may seek success for the glory of God, not for the glory of yourself. Amen.

With love in Christ,



Austin Aldrich