Wisdom, Success and Criticism

I am not surprised when a successful person is maligned on the Internet or elsewhere. Especially if they call themselves a Christian. People just don't seem to like it when Christians become exceedingly wealthy.

Jesus is the Wisdom of God "but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:24. Anyone who makes a lifetime study of the Wisdom of God (and Proverbs is the Wisdom of God: the Wisdom book) would have two things happen in their life:

1. They would become more like Jesus.
2. They would become wealthy with the financial riches of this earth. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the result is prosperity  "With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity." (Proverbs 8:18) " Blessed is the man who fears the Lord..Wealth and riches are in his house..." (Psalms 112:1-3)

Both of the above would attract major criticism from worldly people. If we aspire to be successful in life (more than ordinary success) part of the preparation necessary is the ability to handle criticism or persecution. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30). Success attracts persecution. Much of this criticism is likely to come from so-called "believers" but the spirit behind it all is the devil, "the accuser of the brethren" (1 Timothy 4:13).

Rodney Howard Brown once said "you can only become successful to the level of criticism you can handle. I believe that in the Kingdom of God, when a ministry of Finance is being raised up, part of the preparations in the trials and hardships leading to the wealth manifesting, is an inner strengthening so that person would have the ability to handle a degree of criticism that would crush a weaker individual. A truly successful person has an unshakable inner core that gives them the ability to rise above the opinions and criticisms of others.