The world’s idea of success is very different from God’s. Material wealth, prestige, the praise of others, these things are the trappings of worldly success. And yet, so many who attain these things become what I like to call “successfully miserable.”1
I was riding the stationary bike in the gym yesterday. The television mounted to the bike was on, and Johnny Depp was giving testimony in his highly publicized defamation trial. Two thoughts crossed my mind.
The first thought was - Why is this news? What is it with our society’s obsession with celebrities, especially when those celebrities are suffering, whatever the reason may be? The second thought was more of a deep feeling of sorrow. All the fame, all the praise, and accolades, and yet, these trappings of worldly success are nothing more than golden chains bringing misery and pain.
“Who’ll Stop the Rain?” was written by John Fogerty and performed by his band, Credence Clearwater Revival. In it, Fogerty sings about “good men through the ages trying to find the sun” while the rain of confusion and sorrow continues to fall.
As the song progresses, Fogerty’s lyrics grow more personal - “Five-year plans and new deals, wrapped in golden chains, and I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain?”
“Who’ll Stop the Rain?” peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Top Chart. Like so many songs, I believe part of the reason for its success was the way it connected with so many hearers whose lives were filled with the sorrow, pain, and confusion, which is the song’s theme.
Jesus is the answer to Fogerty’s haunting, heartbreaking question. And Jesus gives us the answer to true success in life -
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:31-33, (NLV)
In Christ,
Dan
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In my book, Masterpiece in the Making, I devote an entire section to “God’s Idea of Success.”
Pastor Dan, It's one of my favorite at all times actor Johnny Depp. Thank you for reminding us to hold in God's promises. God is good all the time.