The Spiritual Risks of Prosperity with Jim Wise | FaithFi
June 15, 2026
The Spiritual Risks of Prosperity with Jim Wise
Faith & Finance with Rob West
In Genesis 11, the people of Babel said, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” That ancient temptation is still alive today. It can surface in seasons of success, when achievement becomes less about serving God and others and more about building a monument to ourselves.
Success is not inherently wrong. Scripture commends diligence, wisdom, excellence, and faithful stewardship. But prosperity also brings spiritual danger. It can reveal what is already happening in the heart.
That was the focus of today’s conversation with Jim Wise, Senior Partner, Senior Private Wealth Advisor, and Director of Ministry Services for Blue Trust in Orlando. Jim is also a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®), bringing both financial expertise and a deep commitment to biblical stewardship.
Jim recently gave a presentation to Kingdom Advisors titled, “My Practice: A Ministry to My Clients or a Monument to Myself?” While the message was directed to financial advisors, the question applies to all of us.
In Genesis 11, the people of Babel said, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” That ancient temptation is still alive today. It can surface in seasons of success, when achievement becomes less about serving God and others and more about building a monument to ourselves.
Success is not inherently wrong. Scripture commends diligence, wisdom, excellence, and faithful stewardship. But prosperity also brings spiritual danger. It can reveal what is already happening in the heart.
That was the focus of today’s conversation with Jim Wise, Senior Partner, Senior Private Wealth Advisor, and Director of Ministry Services for Blue Trust in Orlando. Jim is also a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®), bringing both financial expertise and a deep commitment to biblical stewardship.Jim recently gave a presentation to Kingdom Advisors titled, “My Practice: A Ministry to My Clients or a Monument to Myself?” While the message was directed to financial advisors, the question applies to all of us.
Are we using what God has entrusted to us for His glory, or are we quietly building a name for ourselves?
The Warning of Saul
Jim’s message grew out of his study of King Saul. Early in Saul’s life, we see humility and dependence on God. He did not begin as a man obsessed with power or reputation. But as he experienced success as king, something changed.
What began as humility slowly gave way to pride, arrogance, and self-protection. Eventually, Scripture tells us that Saul went to Carmel and “set up a monument for himself” (1 Samuel 15:12).
That image stayed with Jim. Saul’s story is not merely an ancient warning about a fallen king. It is a mirror for anyone who has experienced influence, achievement, wealth, or vocational success.
Success often does not create pride as much as it exposes it. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Prosperity has a way of bringing hidden desires to the surface.
When Pride Replaces Humility
Many people begin their careers with a deep sense of dependence on the Lord. They pray for guidance, wisdom, provision, and open doors. But over time, success can distort our vision.
We may come to believe that the results are mainly due to our talent, intelligence, discipline, or strategy. Jim described this as “believing our own press clippings.” In a culture that celebrates wealth, platform, and achievement, even a small measure of success can bring attention and praise.
That attention is spiritually dangerous if it leads us to forget the Source of all we have.
Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” Everything we have comes from God and belongs to God. Our abilities, opportunities, influence, and resources are entrusted to us. They are not ours to use however we please.
Choosing an Advisor: Character Matters
This conversation also has practical implications for those choosing a financial advisor. Credentials, experience, and technical knowledge matter. But according to Jim, character matters even more.
A highly competent advisor who lacks character may not lead to the kind of relationship or results a client needs. For Christians, it is especially important to find someone who shares a biblical worldview and understands generosity, stewardship, and accountability before God.
A faithful advisor does not merely ask, “What can we accumulate?” but “What has God entrusted to you, and how can it be used wisely for His purposes?”
That kind of counsel requires more than financial knowledge. It requires wisdom, humility, and a heart submitted to the Lord.
Asking the Right Question: Why?
Success itself is not the issue. The deeper question is why.
Why has God entrusted this platform, business, income, influence, or opportunity to me? What are His purposes for it? What does faithfulness look like in this season?
Jim emphasized that successful Christians should not feel guilty for working hard or pursuing excellence. In fact, when resources are stewarded for the kingdom of God, success can become a powerful means of blessing others and advancing the gospel.
But we must continually return to the Owner and ask, “What do You want me to do with what You have entrusted to me?”
Without that question, success can easily turn inward. Goals become centered on personal achievement, business growth, accumulation, comfort, or reputation, while generosity and kingdom purpose become afterthoughts.
When Ambition Replaces Kingdom Purpose
One warning sign is when selfish ambition begins to replace kingdom purpose.
That may show up in the goals we set. We may have detailed plans for growth, income, retirement, lifestyle, or advancement, but no meaningful goals for generosity, discipleship, service, or eternal impact.
That imbalance reveals something important. Our goals often show what we treasure.
The issue is not whether we are successful. The issue is whether we are surrendering our success to God. Are we asking how our resources can serve His kingdom, or are we simply trying to secure our own comfort and reputation?
Naming the Danger Honestly
Words like materialism and idolatry can sound strong, but Jim believes we need to name these dangers honestly. We cannot repent of what we refuse to confront.
If someone who loves us sees us drifting toward pride, selfish ambition, or materialism, it is an act of love for them to speak the truth. That kind of accountability is not judgmental when it is rooted in concern for our souls and desire for God’s glory.
The human heart is remarkably skilled at turning good gifts into ultimate things. That is why we need Scripture, prayer, community, and wise counsel to help us see clearly.
Success as a Platform for God’s Glory
The goal is not to reject success. The goal is to receive it rightly.
Every opportunity, every dollar, every relationship, and every platform is entrusted by God. The question is whether we will use those gifts to make a name for ourselves or to make much of Him.
The people of Babel wanted to build upward for their own glory. Saul built a monument to himself. But followers of Christ are called to a different path.
Real success is not ultimately measured by what we gain, but by who we are becoming in Christ.
So as God entrusts us with work, wealth, influence, or opportunity, we should keep asking: Is this becoming a ministry to others, or a monument to myself?
That question may be uncomfortable, but it is also a gift. It can help us remember that all we have is from God, belongs to God, and is meant to be used for His glory.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
A couple of years ago, my wife and I enrolled in a debt relief program after medical issues and job loss led us to rely heavily on credit cards. I didn’t fully understand that the company would let accounts go to collections before negotiating settlements, and now I’m seeing the downsides—including tax consequences from forgiven debt. Today, my wife was served with papers for one account that hasn’t been settled. Do we have to stay in the debt relief program, or can we get out and switch to credit counseling? And what should we know now that a lawsuit is involved?
My mother is almost 80 and still has a mortgage. Should I pay it off and put the house in my name in case she needs nursing home care, or should I leave everything as it is and handle it through her estate when she passes? I’m also the executor of her will and want to know what steps, if any, I should take now.
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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