Fear can be such a debilitating mental and emotional reality and can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Fear can cause us to not delegate when we should and often leads to perfectionism and overbearing attempts to control people and situations. Fear can further develop into inaction or passivity. And ultimately, fear can rob us of experiencing God’s blessing.
Essentially, fear is one of the greatest inhibitors to the success God wants to bring about in the various endeavors He has called us to.
Let’s consider this aspect of fear and its relation to success and wealth from the lives of Abramham and Isaac in Genesis chapters 15 through 25.
Soon after the rescue of Lot and the negotiations with the kings of Salem and Sodom, Yahweh met with Abram in a vision and exhorted him not to fear, but rather to rest in the fact that Yahweh Himself would be his defense and protection (15:1). Yahweh changed Abram’s name to Abraham and promised him a son (ch. 17). Abraham then interceded on behalf of Sodom, which had become increasingly wicked (ch. 18). Lot, who was at that time “sitting in the gate of Sodom,” had to be rescued once again to avoid God’s judgment (ch. 19).
Then again after a precarious arrangement with a ruler named Abimelech, God intervened (ch. 20). True to His promise, God did, in fact, provide an heir to Abraham and Sarah by giving them their son Isaac (ch. 21). After Isaac had developed into an adolescent, Yahweh tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son. Abraham passed the test and commemorated the lesson by naming that location Yahweh Yireh, which literally meant, “Yahweh will see to it” (22:14).
After Sarah passed away, Abraham began to look to the future and made some tangible decisions in order to preserve his vision and legacy (ch. 23). He sent his oldest servant on a mission to secure a bride for his son Isaac, a trip marked with God’s providential guidance and provision– ”Yahweh saw to it.” The servant prayed for the success of the mission. And when he saw that everything fell into place according to God’s plan, he worshiped Yahweh, honored his employer, and then thanked God for working in his own life (ch. 24).
The mission was a success.
Before Abraham passed away, the text states that he gave all that he had to Isaac and that “God blessed Isaac his son” (25:11). And Isaac worked hard to steward the blessing and the promise that had now been passed down to him, so much so that he too became “rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy” (25:12-13). Isaac amassed so much wealth that some of the surrounding nations not only envied him, but also became intimidated by him and began to make things very difficult for him in that region. But God intervened once again and brought about relative peace and calm for Isaac. God exhorted him with the same promise He had given to his father: “Do not fear” (25:24). Isaac would soon need this reminder in dealing with his own heirs.
Here are a few areas to consider in light of God’s leading and working in Abraham’s life. In terms of fear, where do you need courage today? One of the greatest promises in all of the Bible is God’s promise that He is with us. Take a moment even now to identify some of your specific fears and be reminded of God’s active presence and help in your life.
Passages like this can also help us to reflect on the future. What steps have you taken to pass God’s blessing to someone else, to the next generation? Who are you mentoring right now? Who can you begin pouring into in ways that transfer not only financial wealth but also a wealth of knowledge and instruction about how to live a wise life–one that is not wasted and that honors God? This does not happen naturally.
You must be intentional with this type of investment.
Notice the pattern exemplified in Abraham’s servant and how he processed the success of his mission (24:26-27): He thanked God, he honored his employer, and then he focused on himself. Success in any venture or sphere has a way of inflating us. But if we are to be wise men and women of God, success should actually humble us. How have you seen this play out in your own life?
Finally, let’s talk further about wealth. There’s a helpful reminder in these passages that increased wealth can often lead to increased troubles and challenges. This was true for Abraham and for Isaac. Wealth can create conflict or generate envy in others, especially in those closest to us, and often by no fault of our own. But it is something to be aware of. How you handle and manage wealth can also be a testimony to others of God’s blessing in your life: Abimelech, his advisor, and his commander testified about Isaac, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you” (26:28). If God blesses you with increased wealth, use it to be a blessing to others and point them to further trust in Him.
[Adapted from devotional 11–On Wealth and Success, which is part of the Wisdom Calling devotional series. You can order all 60 devotionals at www.wisdomcalling.org.]