A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor have a common bond,
The Lord is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:1-2
Success is often measured by the attainment of wealth, the accumulation of what is rare or the ability to afford the expensive and exclusive. It might be a relief to know that success comes not from what you have, but from who has you.
We live in a time where we feel we are often divided. It can be a breath of fresh air to intentionally celebrate our bonds of commonality.
Our world is constantly promoting what is to be “desired” and what is “better.” Cars are upgraded each year, while the size of the lowest model inches closer to that of the mid-size and the mid-size becomes the size of the top model over time.
Everything is constantly being upgraded. It’s all happening so fast that if we don’t slow down, we may not notice that our world often tries to drive us apart by selling us on the things we believe we need — the need for more distinction, separation or security.
Yes, even separation and security from those who don’t have what I have. We have upgraded so much we are at the point where we are fearful of those who have not upgraded with us, and some of us may feel insecure and left behind if we have not upgraded at all.
When we pause from the ceaseless bombardment of upgrades in our lives, we are able to see the vast division: “the haves and the have-nots.”
And while we waste precious time trying to protect what we have from those who don’t have or trying to get what we don’t have from those who have, God is whispering a little message in our ears, saying He has you, He made you, He will provide for you and He cares for you.
For He is our maker. This is the common thread in us all: God is our Maker.
We may often define the success of people from our narrow and biased perspective, forgetting whose hands made them and whose hands keep them. But the entirety of God speaks to His knowledge of us before the womb — His care for us the first day we took breath and His faithful love towards us now, unaltered by what we own or lack.
Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus.
Oh how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.
We can all sing the words of this song. And if we could gauge the flow of love from the heart of God to every “me” within this chorus, the magnitude would be immeasurably equal to all.
With our Maker’s matchless love in mind, let us become consistent and constant in our promotion of His way by following the words of Micah 6:8, "Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."
This is the measure of Godly success. This is the upgrade we need.
A wise saying from Proverbs 14 reminds us — “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Take time to uplift the poor and to heal the brokenness that you witness. You will be honoring the Creator.
So, if you’re ever tempted to trade in God’s hands on you for your hands on the things of this world, remember, an upgrade with God is all the upgrade you’ll need.
—Carl Ricketts Jr., MDiv, is director of Chaplain Services for Loma Linda University Medical Center.
