Fame and Fortune:  the life-long story and talk of the ages.  By some, it has been regarded as the hallmark of greatness - the thing to be pursued with all one's heart.  By others, it has been shunned as some monstrous evil - a filthy, deadly poison that devours everything in its path.

The truth is, fame and fortune is neither something to be grasped at, nor a thing to be shunned.  Rather, fame and fortune each symbolize a test that every human being will encounter, on some level, during their life-time.

The test is, what will we do with fame and fortune when it comes ?

A well-known television veteran and ordained minister once spoke to a crowd of celebrities upon receiving his Hall of Fame award.  In his opening words, he remarked:

FAME is a 4-letter word - Like FACE, or PAIN, or LIFE, or LOVE, or HATE...

What ultimately matters is what we do with it.

He went on to express that for those, like him, who were in television (or other public mediums),  our pursuit should be to be a servant - to use our position to serve and enrich the lives of our audiences.

But you don't have to be a celebrity to put into practice these wise instructions.  Actually, it is what you do before you encounter fame that will define you when you do experience it.

Proverbs 27.21 (MSG) says the purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire - THE PURITY OF HUMAN HEARTS IS TESTED BY GIVING THEM A LITTLE FAME.

The purity of our heart is tested by what we do with fame when it comes.

It is interesting that this verse says "a little fame".  In other words, the test of the purity of our heart is not necessarily overnight stardom.  Fame most often comes by degrees.  Perhaps it was becoming the winner of the first grade colouring contest, or being nominated as class president or prom queen.  Maybe it was a special promotion on the job, or being noticed and complimented for your serving at a volunteer event.

The thing of greatest importance is what we did with that taste of fame.  Did we allow it to inflate our pride or did we use our "fame" as a platform to bring greater blessing to others ?

So often we have seen those who rose to fame fall flat on their face because they had not prepared to handle fame when it came.

Purity of heart is what will preserve you as you advance in life.

Proverbs 11.3 reveals that the integrity of the upright will guide them.  The literal meaning of the word translated "integrity" in this verse means innocence or purity of heart.

And the word "guide" here can also mean to direct and subsequently, to preserve.  So as we go through life, we will be guided and preserved according to the purity of our heart.

If we pursue fame, failure is inevitable because of a lack of a strong foundation.  But if we pursue purity of heart before God and maturity of character, when fame comes to us we will remain on solid ground.

Maybe you've felt stuck behind the scenes for a long time and you're anxious for a "break" into the forefront.  Don't make the mistake of seeking fame.  Rest assured that God has great things in store for you beyond anything that you could dream.  And if you'll seek HIM with all your heart, He will bring you into that greatness.

Jesus said not to worry about the "things" of life - that's what the whole world seeks after.  He said, but you are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - and then all these other things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6.33)

God already knows all you need, and He will give you more than enough to meet your needs and desires if you will make Him and His kingdom your primary focus and pursuit.  We are to seek after God, and not after fame nor fortune.

In much the same way that fame is a test of purity of heart, so also are money and possessions.  How much we do or don't have is not so much the important issue as is what our attitude is toward "fortune" and what we do with it.

Your faithfulness in the little things defines your degree of faithfulness in the bigger things of life.

Jesus said, Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones.  If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibility.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money."   [Luke 16.10-13 NLT]

In the same way that fame is not something to be pursued, neither is fortune.  You can't pursue both God and riches.  If you run after fame and fortune, you will ultimately end up on the road to failure. 

But if you seek after God - you'll gain both riches and honour with out all the failure.

Proverbs 22.4 says that true humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour and long life.  God's blessing makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. [Prov. 10.22]  No mistake about it, when God is your treasure, you won't be deficient in any area.  "The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver."     - Psalm 119.72

The Lord said that when you seek Him and fully obey His Word, all His blessings would pursue and overtake you.   When God is your pursuit, you don't have to chase after the blessings - the blessings will chase after you. [Deuteronomy 28.1-2]

Jeremiah 9.23-24 tells us:  "This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches.  Let them boast in this alone: that they truly KNOW ME and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!"  

There is something more than fame, something more than fortune - and it is KNOWING GOD.   

With life can come some really great things - but nothing compares to the greatness of knowing and understanding God.  That's what we should glory in.

The Apostle Paul warned not to trust in uncertain riches, but to trust in God who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  [I Tim. 6.17]

He said to choose His instruction rather than silver and His knowledge over pure gold. "For [God's] wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.  NOTHING YOU DESIRE CAN COMPARE WITH IT."  [Prov. 8.10-11]

Nothing we could ever hope for can compare to God and what He gives.  Nothing! What He does never disappoints.  He wrote the book on pleasure and enjoying life to the fullest.  Religion has taught that God doesn't want you to have a good time.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Psalm 16.11 confirms that in His Presence is FULLNESS OF JOY - and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Enjoyment, pleasure, and delight in life are all God's idea, God's plan for us.  When we pursue Him and pursue His ways with all our heart,  we can enjoy a wonderful life.

One small error we have ignorantly walked in for a time, is the incorporation of the word "fun" in our vocabulary.  "Fun" is a Middle English word (originally spelled fonne) meaning:  a fool, foolish, foolishness, or phony.

We have learned to eradicate words of doubt, unbelief, and death from our vocabulary, yet have often been ignorant of these words that can be just as destructive.

Jesus said that pride and foolishness defile man.[Mk. 7.22-23]  Those who walk with the wise will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.  [Prov. 13.20]  The foolishness of man twists his way; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord.  [Prov. 19.3]  Ultimately, Psalm 5.5 says that the foolish will not stand in God's sight.

God hates foolishness because it causes harm.  But He takes  great pleasure in our prosperity [shalom] - our happiness, welfare, peace, completeness, fulfilment, enjoyment, and delight.  [Ps. 35.27]

So don't chase after the empty pursuits of Fame, Fortune, and Folly - 

                        Steep yourself in GOD...  allow Him to purify your heart...