Success does not translate into righteousness
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 9:4-6
 
Countless people who are influential and wealthy are not righteous because they made their riches through dishonest ways. Most successful people around the world are not upright; because they made their riches through deceit and treachery. The majority of the powerful people are evil doers who lie and cheat to make themselves wealthy. Many of the leaders in the world today became great through fraud and exploitation. The houses of numerous influential people are full of loot realized from embezzlement and their bank accounts are fat due to bribery and corruption.
 
The homes of most of the successful people in positions of authority are stuffed with ill-gotten wealth/gain and many of them have no conscience; to the extent that right or wrong mean nothing to them. The Book of Jeremiah corroborated this fact by saying, "As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore, they have become great and grown rich." Jeremiah 5:27. Hence, do not forget that it is not uprightness but evil plots that are making most people great and rich in the world today.
 
Many successful people in the world think that it is their righteousness or smartness that brought them prosperity; but they are wrong because the majority of them are stubborn. Moses warned the people of Israel about this notion when they got to the land of Canaan by saying; "Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying 'Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land'; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people" Deuteronomy 9:4-6. 
 
For this reason, the distinguished people must quit this mindset that everything that they achieved is due to their righteousness or smartness; rather it is due to the wickedness of their predecessors and the covenants that God had with their forefathers. So, let it sink into their hearts that their exalted/prime positions and their financial stability together with their celebrity status are not due to their righteousness or smartness but the grace of God. Therefore, it is inevitable for them to make efforts, so that their righteousness will exceed that of the hypocrites, in order to be admitted into the kingdom of God.
 
Inasmuch as humans are sin-infected, and sin-contaminated; with all their best deeds together with all the right things they have done like a filthy rag in the presence of God; then it signifies success and prosperity is not due to uprightness. The Bible stated that "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" Isaiah 64:6. 
 
Since our righteousness is like a polluted garment before the Lord, then mankind must strive and make sure that our good deeds surpass that of the hypocrites, else they will end up in hell. Our leaders and the people in positions of authority must be cautious and seek the righteousness of God wholeheartedly because "…..to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more" Luke 12:48. 
 
Furthermore, they must pay attention to the warning of Jesus Christ our Lord which says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25. They need to change for the better, so that they will not end their journey in hell. They must be considerate, and just in all their dealings; because God will deal with humans according to their righteousness and He will reward them based on their uprightness. 
 
Inasmuch as success does not translate into righteousness; you must neither be jealous nor envy the braggers who prosper, or the wicked who are doing well. Don't be worried about those who prosper or succeed in their evil plans; instead, wait for the Lord to act. Even, when others get rich, and when someone else’s evil deeds plans succeed; don’t be ·upset, but be prayerful and trust the Lord to transform your life. 
 
Don't make the unrighteous people your role model, and don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things; instead, be patient for God to assist you to climb the spiritual ladder of success; according to the scripture which says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass." Psalm 37:7. 
 
Whatever your situation; if you keep yourself holy, God will bestir Himself for you and make you prosperous again. It must be noted that if you are upright; then, God will rouse himself for you and fulfill all your pressing needs. The only way for your Maker to be active on your behalf is to start living right; it is then that He will rescue you from your problems and restore your lost honor. 
 
Righteousness is a necessity for God to stand up for you, and assist you to succeed in all your endeavors; according to the Bible passage that says, "If you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place." Job 8:6. You must abstain from sin, before God can set everything right for you, and grant you enduring fortunes without tears. 

 
Be decent more than the impostors
Bible Reading: Matthew 5: 13-20
 
Today, indecency is flourishing throughout the nooks and corners of the world, and it is spreading at an alarming rate. Even the Believers are not exempted from this nefarious act. Many people in the world indulge in one form of hypocrisy or the other which displeases God. Decency is rare among mankind and people are straying from the righteous path. Most of the people who are confessing and professing to be righteous are nothing but hypocrites, and they are taking advantage of the gullible, who are easily persuaded to believe that they are virtuous.
 
Nowadays, impostors are everywhere in the world, including the churches, and they are among every rank in our society. So, it is difficult to distinguish between the real people of God, and the impostors who are pretending to be righteous and holier than holy; in order to deceive others for fraudulent gain. What the Christians need to realize is that unless their uprightness exceeds that of the pretenders, they will not be admitted into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
Though uprightness is acting in accord with divine law of God and moral law; which will result in freedom from guilt or sin; however, people prefer baseness to righteousness. Inasmuch as uprightness is acting according to the terms of the covenant which the Lord has established; together with doing what is right, by obeying His law and adhering to morals. So, you must be morally correct and justified before God can be delighted in you.
 
When people faithfully obey everything that God has commanded them; He will be pleased with them and it will be counted as righteousness. The Bible testified to this fact by saying "Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us" Deuteronomy 6:25. Are you doing the right things, so that your righteousness will exceed that of the hypocrites? Do you think that you will be considered righteous, in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven? Are you conforming to God's will in word, thought, and action? If not change today. If you want to be successful and preserved on earth; you must faithfully obey everything that God commanded you. The right thing for you to do, for things to go well with you, is to fear God and make your uprightness to surpass that of the hypocrites.
 
Abraham was loyal to God, and his uprightness transcends that of the pretenders; so, God considered him righteous during his lifetime. You too must believe in the Lord and remain steadfast to Him throughout your existence; so that it will be counted as righteousness for you: according to the Bible passage which says "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" Genesis 15:6. Emulate Abraham, our forefather by putting your faith in God alone, and abstain from every form of hypocrisy. If you want to please God and be acceptable in His presence, you must trust in Him and rely solely on Him without any pretension. Furthermore, let the heavens vouch for you, that you will inculcate the right conducts/habits in your descendants and teach them to be transparent.