The God of Success

Introduction

A. We may want to define success in a number of ways but most of us when we hear the word success think in terms of wealth. It is infused in our culture. The successful person is the one who has made it to a certain financial status and is able to have what he wants. While we may speak of success in relationships, i.e., a long marriage or success in education, i.e. terminal degree, but the truth is success is mostly associated with wealth.

B. When a person has wealth, there is a belief that the person must be very intelligent and focused. I have no idea if either or both of those notions are accurate but they exist, at least in America, with wealth. There is also the perception that wealthy people are not common people. Part of that has to do with the necessary insulation and isolation that often comes with wealth. Wealthy people find it difficult to be like anyone else because so many want something from them. But with that insulation and isolation comes the perception that they are unapproachable. That idea isn’t fair to them. But then there are times that the wealthy perpetuate such a view. The belief in entitlement often accompanies a wealthy person. They may be used to getting what they want when they want it and begin to think that those around them should assist them in maintaining and building wealth.

C. These generalizations may be unfair. But perceptions are often difficult to change. What we do know for sure is this—the more we have (and this applies to the wealthy and those of us who have much but don’t consider ourselves wealthy) the more difficult it is to keep things in perspective. The real struggle is found in believing that things protect us. Those with wealth are protected in many ways. Wealth allows you to have health insurance; wealth allows you to be exposed to culture and art; wealth allows you to be treated better; wealth brings opportunity for better nutrition. Wealth protects in some way. It is a small step from understanding what wealth can do to trusting in the wealth to working for the wealth to make wealth its own end.

D. This problem existed in Ezekiel’s day as well. One of the lures of wealth is that it makes one think only about it. It mesmerizes and entices and makes us confident and assured. When wealth protects, ensures, and builds up then we begin to be confident in that wealth and wealth has become our god. This is the warning and judgment which God pronounces in Ezekiel 28 on the king of Tyre. This is one of 7 condemnations against other nations surrounding Israel. The intent is that Israel is to learn from these condemnations. So must we.

E. History and the Text

1. Tyre was the capital city of Phoenicia. The city was built on an island about a half a mile from the shore. Between the land and the island was a very deep harbor. From this tiny island city came the best shipbuilders and sailors in the world. Just a few years before Ezekiel's day, the Phoenicians had circumnavigated Africa.

A. Tyre's real genius was in commerce. They were traders. They were a people who would go out in their ships and purchase raw materials and made them usable. Then in those same ships they would sail the world selling and trading their goods. The Egyptians and Babylonians had picture writing but the Phoenicians developed a system in which sounds were place with pictures rather than meanings. They developed an alphabet. The Phoenicians also developed a double-entry bookkeeping system and along with that money. Thanks to the Phoenicians our world now knows what the value of a dollar is. It is against this city and its leader that God pronounces judgment and destruction.

B. Just a brief side note. Some come to this text and see here a picture of Satan being cast out of heaven. There are several problems with this view. First, such a view about this text did not come into existence until much later in Israel's history. Second, such an approach ignores the context. This prophecy comes in the sixth position of seven prophecies against Israel's neighbors. Why would this particular passage mean something different from the others. Third, the text clearly says this is against the king of Tyre. One has to have good reason to make the king of Tyre something other than the king of Tyre. Finally, those who approach this text thinking they find Satan in this text are using their presupposition to prove the point. Their argument goes something like this: Satan was an angel created by God who fell from heaven when he rebelled against God. Ezekiel 28 proves this. So they come to the text with a predetermined idea of what happened and then use the text to make their point. This is a circular approach to the text.

C. God's description of Tyre and its king describe in detail the wealth that existed there. In fact, in verse 13 God says the very earth's wealth was made available to them. They were anointed by God to serve as an example of beauty and wealth. They were given wisdom, understanding, and skill. All of these were gifts from God. But this is where Tyre fell. Tyre took God's gifts and assumed that all of this had come about by its own power.

Application

A. Let’s make sure that we understand the message of scripture. Making money is never depicted as evil in scripture. Having things is not wrong. Being successful is not frowned on. What is depicted in scripture is the view of pride in terms of wealth. Believing that in some way what we have is from our own ingenuity rather than God’s gift is condemned in scripture. Notice verse 2. “In the pride of your heart you say, I am a god.” Pride breaks the first commandment of the 10 given in Exodus 20. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Pride says there is a god before the Almighty and we are that god. There can only be one god in each person’s life.

B. What does this have to do with us? Let’s look at this in terms of work. Why do we work? For those whose god is self, then we work for ourselves so that we can surround ourselves with the fruit of our labor. But not for the disciple of Jesus. We work in order to honor God. We recognize that our hands and our minds are God’s gift to us. We use them to help others. We use them to honor him.

1. The student who finds the educational process boring doesn't understand the gift they have been given. They think education is an end in itself. Your mind is God's gift. Disciples of Jesus study because it is God's gift to be used. Not for you, but for others. Good grades which come from good study habits honor God.

2. The disciple of Jesus works hard knowing that they are working for God. They are not working for an employer or a paycheck. The disciple of Jesus understands that work honors God and they want their work to reflect God's wisdom and love.

3. A disciple brings honor to God on the job. We word hard; we use our imagination and creativity; we seek ways to improve. These are qualities which God acknowledges as good. But as Tyre the danger is to bow to success as the end of one's work. When we are praised in our work, then we give that praise to God. This life is to be lived with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. To lower our sights we set ourselves up as god. This is the sin of pride. We are here to make God look good not to make ourselves look good.

4. The work of a Beethoven, and the work of a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God, of being done humbly "as to the Lord." This does not, of course, mean that it is for anyone a mere toss-up whether he should sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow. C.S. Lewis, *The Weight of Glory*.

5. This is what Jesus' death was designed to demonstrate. Invitation.

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