Success Happy - How do u stay religious, when most of the world isn't, and when it can make you less likely to be successful?

How do u stay religious, when most of the world isn't, and when it can make you less likely to be successful?

Many religions including Christianity say that you should abandon the world and not try to be successful according to the world's standards. Well then, that right there is dampening your ability to be a Donald Trump. Religion can take alot away from you, including worldly success,.so why side with it? Also, by being religious, you're going to have like notihng in common with most of the world, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, we do have alot of negative attributes to the world....but it's like a hopeless belief system because..the world operates to the laws wills and lusts of man...and they'll treat you like..you don't even exist, like you're a crazy person. For example...if you're going to do banking/talk to a banker, a businessman, an entrepreneur, computer expert..whatever the job may be, their main interest and what they know and how they think, believe me, is not centered around Christianity or other religions. They're not there memorizing bible scriptures! Believe me on that, and if you do all of that and come into contact with them, you'll look at them like they're weird people who just don't get it, and they'll look at you and treat you like a l0ser m0ron, believe me because I've been there done that. You're expected to work, have things, have kids, be a 'norm' of society, and just basically be like everyone else so to say, and if you're not people think there's sometihng very very wrong with you. They really do. Being Christian in this world...feels like, okay you can do good things for people and what not, but most people don't care, they're after their own image and money and success and they won't even respect you for being Christian. It's a weird thing,...when you're religious, it's hard to relate to anyone. Man's natural ways of being, their lusts, their drives/ambitions, etc, are NOT spiritual in nature. Unfortunately. So then how does one stay religious, especially in friggin America, where you're expected to work, succeed, go throughout schooling, and do all sorts of things? I mean it's America...if you don't work here and conform and do what the rest of society does,. you're outcasted, seen as poor, made fun of...all sorts of things. And my argument is that religion/Christianity make it WORSE for you to succeed, and fit into the world and society, and make your life alot harder from that aspect, and that it's going to cause you alot of mental anguish and torture, because the more you grow religiously, the less you'll have in common with humanity and the world, and...that will cause problems. Especially when it comes to paying bills, 'advancing' with technology, keeping up with things. I mean you'll just almost become like the unibomber or something! If you take it THAT far over that long of a time frame, I CAN see that happening! so then...what's the answer. To be religious or not.....and how does one stay religious..when it more then likely will make your earthly physical life (which religious people don't value as much as their eternal life) horrible? Religion in a way can royally mess up this one and only physical life that we have, and will make all these promises for the afterlife, but...they place like 0 value on THIS life. I'm confused and distraught, so if someone can make this all sound good to me, I encourage you! Most of the world IS religious, but ..that doesn't mean that they're doing a great job at BEING religious.

Public Comments

Religion ends where it was made -- with man. However, having a persoanl realtionship with God through Christ Jesus doesn't involve a religion, and sure as heck doesn't require popular backing !! Besides -- being succesful doesn't mean having a ton of money -- being successful is impacting peoples lifes for good for no other reason than unselfish gain -- Be Blessed !
Unfortunetly, most of the world IS religious.
1 John 2:15-17 (New King James Version) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever Matthew 16:26 (New King James Version) 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
The Bible is horribly outdated. Few now understand that when Jesus said that the chances of a rich man getting into heaven are the same as getting a camel through the eye of a needle that he was actually referring to the Eye of the Needle, one of the entrances of Jerusalem in Jesus' time. This is tough but NOT an impossible task. Jesus was a reformer in the style of Hillel the Elder. Other people have taken his words and image and done things with it that he did not intend.
u are basically assuming that to be a christian you have to forfeit success...COMPLETLEY FALSE...God says if we put the kingdom(spiritual well being) first all other things (material) will be added to us. Study God's word before u make FALSE assumptions.
did not read the whole thing.. will give you a good farm example...sort of mark twain flavor.. How do you walk through the pasture without stepping in cows pies? You watch what you are doing, pay attention to what is important, do not step out of line, do not rush ahead of yourself as you might slip and fall,the bull will not notice you, and the narrow gate is easy....
I think that part of being a Christian is accepting that you will not be like the world. Concerning finding success in the world: I think a lot of Christ's teachings center on being ethical and finding balance in one's personal life. For example, it is ok to be ambitious, but it is not ok to be unethical and to trample on other people to get to where you want to be. Normally, if you focus on your own self-improvement, you will qualify yourself for good positions without having to ruin other people's lives. Christianity is meant to keep a check on normal impulses that, if they become, extreme, can cause hurt and pain to others. Becoming successful in the worldly sense is a good thing because you can potentially help others through your success. Also, in my personal opinion, I suggest creating a new definition of success for yourself that incorporates spiritual and practical principles. Most people don't end up where they imagined and thought they would want to be in life, but they have to learn to be happy and content in the reality that surrounds them.
First of all, how can loving God and loving people make you less successful? Seems to me that you are getting "religion and relationship" confused. Christianity is about a relationship with Christ. It is not about pounding people with rules of do and don't. Yes when you are given the chance to share your testimony you should but you can not force faith on anyone. Remember we are "in" the world, but not "of" it anymore as Christians. You can not isolate yourself from people and be an effective witness but you can be insulated from the pressure of temptation. Get out there and live. This life is a vapor in time compared to eternity. "What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul? Love God, love people, and love life. Peace!
Your beliefs and your actions don't necessarily effect one another. You can merely "believe" in God, and sit around and do nothing. You can be a complete atheist, yet work your butt off and get rich. Your individual belief system has nothing to do with it. But if you want some examples of very rich or educated or successful believers: Ken Ham: Multimillionaire domain investor (christian) John D Rockefeller: Worlds first billionaire (by today's standard)-Devout Christian Francis Collings: Leader of coding the human genome (DNA). A Christian Henry Ford: Automobile maker was religious. Isaac Newton: Regarded as one of the most brilliant scientists of all time, also wrote more on religion privately than he did science. Countless current actors, singers, enterpreneurs, etc are extremely successful, educated, intelligent, and also believe in God.
actually, I think my religion expands on my job and performance, not hinders it. It brings up interesting conversation. I find people to be curious of my religion, like getting my ashes on ash wed, I think over 50 people asked me about it because they WANTED to know, and when approaching a conversation with love and understanding of your religion and respect for those who believe differently it really opens up healthy dialog. As long as you have the patients for those who attack your belief with a way to end a conversation saying "I see your point of view and how it differs from mine, thats interesting and I think I'll look further into that." As for seeming outcasted, I am certainly not. Being poor? well, I am on the lower income scale of things as I am young but no one can make me feel impoverished or see me as so because I have love, support, food, shelter, and clothing.....I see myself as being rich with life. I find religion makes it easier to relate to people, to see them all as Gods children, of seeing the great potential in all people including criminals or ex criminals. I think your problem is not religion, I think its how you yourself are viewing people negatively. You must think pretty low of yourself and others to assume that they think so low of you. And you think that people don't care for your kindness or your Christian ways but I think that is a misguided though. I do good whenever I can and I think it doesn't have to be an outward expression of thankfulness that should compell you to act. example: I take the train everyday West, East is to New York City. One day I bought a ticket and when it came out of the machine there was one West, and one East. I had no use for the East ticket, I don't travel often to the city, and I didn't pay for it. The couple behind me was traveling East with their small daughter and trying to sort out their money for tickets, I said "Here. this ticket came out of the machine, take it, I have no need for it" The couple was taken aback and went to hand me money for the ticket, I told them no, it was free, they insisted and I still refused. It wasn't my money to take, I looked at their money and at the little girl and said, "If you want to spend that money, go buy your daughter an ice cream when you get to the city, my treat." Now they didn't thank me, infact they were terribly confused as to why I was being so kind, but I know they appreciated it, I didn't need their thanks to know that. As it says in Matthew about not standing on the corner and praying so that other people may look at you in prayer thinking, oh what a holy person who prays in public. Thats just a show you put on to make people think your pious, the same goes for religion and kindness. Don't do it so your recognized for it, do it so no one knows how kind you are. Who needs to be thanked constantly? recieving a pat on the back for being a Christian means what? My though is, with dealing in life, economy, school, jobs, don't care what others think if you feel that you are doing the right thing.