Success can be a wonderful blessing, but sometimes it changes people in ways they never expected.
I’ve noticed that some people who grow up poor or in middle-class families and later become financially successful begin distancing themselves from the very people who were once part of their lives.
It’s not always because their families want money or favors. Sometimes, those who become successful begin looking down on relatives who earn less, live more modestly, or simply cannot afford the same lifestyle.
Family gatherings become less frequent. Invitations stop coming. Christmas becomes more about expensive gifts than spending time together.
But here’s something worth remembering: Your income does not determine your worth, and financial success does not make you better than anyone else.
A Lesson About Faith, Family, and Finances
I once heard a story at church about a married couple with two children who earned approximately $110,000 a year. The husband worked in a factory, earning $90,000, while his wife earned another $20,000 working part-time. Where I’m formerly from which is Ohio that was considered a good living.
They had a beautiful home, expensive furniture, recreational vehicles, and all the comforts they wanted. Unfortunately, they were also living beyond their means.
They had gradually distanced themselves from family members who earned less, believing those relatives weren’t living up to their full potential.
Then everything changed.
The husband’s employer announced it was relocating overseas to reduce labor costs. Within 45 days, he would be unemployed.
Confident in his skills, he believed finding another job would be easy. But after approximately 20 interviews, he still had no offers.
They started using their savings thankfully they had them they even dipped into their 401(k) and had to pay a penalty at the end of the year on their taxes so they chose not to do that again, but it was an emergency situation so they chose to sell stock that they had invested in their 401(k) and of course, when you do that that can often come with a penalty on your income tax.
They were starting to see that when you’re struggling it’s not always easy to come out of a struggle that when you start getting buried too deep financially that no matter what you try to do you’re still going to struggle and they weren’t used to struggling.
Bills piled up. Credit cards became their lifeline. Their savings disappeared, and bankruptcy became a frightening possibility.
The husband grew bitter. He blamed his employer, the credit card companies, his circumstances, and eventually even God.
His anger began affecting his marriage and children. he never became abusive in any way, but he certainly was always angry..
Finally, he and his wife sought help from a Christian counselor.
During one session, after expressing his frustration, he bitterly remarked, “Well, I guess we should just be thankful we still have each other and our children.”
Then he stopped.
He heard the bitterness in his own voice and realized something important.
He had spoken about his greatest blessings as though they were a consolation prize.
He still had his wife. He still had his children. And he had relatives who loved him and would have helped, despite the years he had spent looking down on them.
The family members he once judged for earning less were living within their means, enjoying their lives, and appreciating what God had provided.
Meanwhile, he had confused material possessions with true prosperity.
God Never Promised a Life Without Hardship
The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV)
Notice that Scripture doesn’t tell us to be thankful only when life is comfortable.
We are called to remain thankful even during difficult seasons.
Think about Daniel. Despite being taken from his homeland, facing powerful enemies, and eventually being thrown into the lions’ den, Daniel remained faithful to God. His circumstances changed, but his devotion did not.
Daniel understood something we sometimes forget: God’s faithfulness isn’t measured by our bank accounts, possessions, or circumstances.
And when life becomes difficult, that is not the time to turn away from God. That is when we need to draw closer to Him.
The Greatest Riches Cannot Be Purchased
There is nothing wrong with working hard, becoming successful, or enjoying the blessings that come with financial security.
But never allow success to make you forget where you came from, who loved you before you had money, or the God who carried you through your journey.
A person earning $50,000 a year may have a richer life than someone earning $300,000 because true wealth includes love, faith, peace, gratitude, and meaningful relationships.
And remember, financial hardship is not necessarily God’s punishment. Sometimes good, hardworking people experience circumstances completely beyond their control.
My hope is that we learn to praise God on the mountaintops and trust Him in the valleys.
If you’re experiencing a season of prosperity, be grateful, remain humble, and share your blessings.
If you’re struggling financially, don’t lose hope. Your circumstances today do not determine your tomorrow.
And if success has caused distance between you and the people who once mattered most, perhaps today is a good day to reconnect.
Because jobs can disappear, money can be lost, and possessions can be replaced. But the love of family, the peace of knowing Christ, and the gift of another day are blessings no amount of money can buy.
Keep your faith strong, your heart humble, and your gratitude greater than your circumstances. God is still with you, in every season of life.
Wishing you all a very blessed day
Deb
