We all want to be successful. There are two competing worldviews on success. The Christian worldview is that God is the source of all our blessings, while the secular worldview is that success is purely through meritocracy.
While we recognise meritocracy because the Bible says if we do not work, we should not eat, the secular worldview is founded on graduating from elite universities, having connections with the rich and powerful, marrying up and capitalising on all the leverages in life. However, succeeding this way breeds pride because the individuals will credit it to their own doing. These people’s identities will be built on the worldly foundation where they believe that they are self-made men and women and masters of their destinies until everything crumbles around them. Such cases are common in the corporate world, and people can easily lose their identities when their positions and social standings are gone because they have made money and power their gods.
Christians who have not renewed their minds might still hold this worldview without God in the equation. What’s worse is when they pass this worldview onto their children. On the other hand, mature Christians will have the belief that God is the creator of heaven and earth, the giver of life, the redeemer of our souls, and the source of all blessings. They will believe that they are stewards of everything that He has given them, and they will be willing to tithe and give freewill offerings because their identities are in Christ, which is a solid foundation.
Hebrews 7:1-2, 9 (NKJV) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”… Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,
There are two ways of prospering financially: God’s way or the world’s way. Because there is insufficient teaching by the church on God’s blessings and wealth, some Christians feel ashamed when they are doing well financially, or they will secretly pursue success through the world’s way and embrace the secular view. However, when God blesses us, He adds no sorrow with it, but we will be pierced with many sorrows if we operate in the world’s unethical or unscrupulous ways. The love of money is the root of all evil, which is why some of our Christian friends have drifted away from God because they want to succeed through the world’s ways.
As Christians, we need to be clear that the reason why we give tithe and offering is that we believe God is the source of our provision. Besides serving the Lord with our gifts and talents, we choose to honour and worship Him with tithing. It keeps our hearts right with God and gives us a constant dependence on Him for everything. God wants us to be prosperous and successful, but being convinced that He is the source of our blessings.
Sermon Series: Christian Worldview on Success
我们的成功建立在对神的信心里
我们所有人都想成功。关于成功有两种截然不同的世界观。基督教的世界观是神是我们所有祝福的源泉，而世俗的世界观则是成功纯粹通过个人能力。
我们承认精英主义的个人努力，因为圣经说，如果我们不肯做工，就不可吃饭。而精英主义获得成功的世俗世界观是建立在从顶尖大学毕业、与富裕和有权势的人建立良好关系，在婚姻上高攀，并充分利用生活中的所有优势。当一个人以这种方式成功时，他会感到骄傲，因为他会觉得是靠自己的努力获得了这一切。这些人的身份是建立在这个世界观之上的, 他们相信自己是独立奋斗成功的人，掌握着自己的命运，直到周围的一切崩溃。你可能在企业界看到过很多这样的例子，当人们失去职位和社会影响力时，他们迷失了自我，因为金钱和权力是他们的神。
一个心意没有更新的基督徒可能仍然有这样的世界观。神不在其中。而更可怕的是，他们用世俗的世界观来教导他们的孩子!另一方面，成熟的基督徒们相信神是天地的创造者，生命的给予者，我们灵魂的救赎者，神是我们所有祝福的源泉。他们相信自己是祂的管家，管理祂所赐予的一切。他们对十一奉献和自由奉献都心甘情愿, 因为他们的身份是在基督里，这是一个坚实的根基。
希伯来书 7:1-2，9这麦基洗德就是撒冷王，又是至高神的祭司，本是长远为祭司的。他当亚伯拉罕杀败诸王回来的时候，就迎接他，给他祝福。亚伯拉罕也将自己所得来的，取十分之一给他。他头一个名翻出来就是仁义王，他又名撒冷王，就是平安王的意思…并且可说那受十分之一的利未，也是藉着亚伯拉罕纳了十分之一。
在财务上兴旺有两种方式，神的方式或世界的方式。因为教会很少教导神对于财富的祝福，一些基督徒感到羞愧，因为他们在财务上很成功，或者他们会悄悄地通过世界的方式和世俗的世界观去追求成功。问题是，当神赐福我们时，并不加上忧虑，而如果我们以世界上不道德或不择手段的方式运作，就用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。贪财是万恶之源， 也是为什么一些基督徒朋友为了通过世界的方式成功而远离了神。
作为基督徒，我们需要非常清楚我们为什么要做十一奉献，因为我们相信神是我们供应的源头。除了用我们的恩赐和才能服侍主之外，我们还选择用我们的奉献来荣耀和敬拜祂。这使我们的心与神保持一致，并不断依靠祂作为我们一切供应的源头。神希望我们兴盛并成功，并确信祂是所有祝福的源头。
讲章系列：基督徒对成功的世界观