Seeking Fame and Fortune

Why do we always want to be rich and famous?

We are deceived by the world by social media, Television, and wanting and desiring what our neighbors and friends have. Some people even go to the extent of lusting after and having affairs with their friend’s or neighbors spouses.

Why do we always want what seems to be the “ultimate utopia of happiness and wealth”?

The things we should seek for can't be obtained with richness and money or fame. But having the things money can't buy is priceless. Things such as Wisdom, Health, Happiness, Love, Peace, Joy, Grace and Salvation are all things that money cant buy.

Solomon, one of the wealthiest and wisest men on earth knew that seeking and having wisdom was “more precious than rubies”.

Proverbs 8:11 -14 (NIV).

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have insight, I have power.

In fact, throughout Chapter 8, Solomon is writing as if “Wisdom” is a person and is speaking to the reader and telling the reader to seek out wisdom first, then riches and fame will follow.

The following verses from Solomon,Ch 8: 18-21 explains it further.

18 With me are riches and honor,

enduring wealth and prosperity.

My fruit is better than fine gold;

what I yield surpasses choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.

Having and seeking other things like love, health, joy, peace, all of the “Fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians Chapter 5, Paul, the great apostle of the bible, speaks about what everyone should be seeking instead of money and fame.

Galatians 5: 22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These should be the characteristics of a person who follows Christ. These qualities cannot be bought with money or obtained with fame. You can't or don't have to buy them. You just simply have to ask God to give them to you.

Solomon prayed for just one thing - Wisdom, but God gave him more than this one thing. Solomon already was wise in asking for Wisdom (discernment) because maybe he knew that all the other things would follow.

1 Kings 3:5, 3:9-15

. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern these great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

Solomon was blessed through a dream! Many people in the Bible and present time, see the Lord and are blessed through dreams. Sometimes God gives us revelations and insights through our dreams, but that is another topic to be discussed later in one of my future blog posts.

DONT SEEK FAME AND FORTUNE

1 Timothy 6:9–10 – “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare… For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils.”

The desire for wealth and fame can lead to ruin if it replaces your devotion to God.
Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve both God and money.”

Wealth competes with God for our hearts. You can't serve two Gods at the same time. Our God is a jealous God, and you don't want to make God jealous. What he gave you he can also take it away.
Proverbs 23:4–5 – “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”

Earthly riches are fleeting. It may take a long time to acquire it. You can spend a lifetime acquiring it but it can be gone in what seems like a few days or instantly depending o n the circumstances.

WHAT WE SHOULD SEEK INSTEAD

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

God promises provisions when our priorities are right. Once we set our sights on seeking God and his guidance and commands then he will give us everything else.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 – “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me.”

Never boast about your earthly riches and possessions or strength or power, but boast that you know and understand God.
Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Finally, this means to keep your heart fixed and concentrated on our creator and not on earthly things. Don't be obsessed with fame and fortune as they are temporary and fleeting, just as this earth is. But seeking eternal life through salvation is the key to a successful and abundant life in Christ Jesus.

By Ella Shines Goldsmith 09/01/2025

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