Mistakes of “Successful” Men

Mistakes of “Successful”

MenWe have put “successful” in quotation marks, because these men were successful only from the world’s viewpoint

Worldly SuccessIn 1923, a very important meeting was held in the

Edgewater Beach Hotel, in Chicago. Attending were 10 of the most successful financiers. Those present were: the president of the largest independent steel company in the world, the president of the National City Bank, the president of the largest utility company, the greatest wheat speculator, the president of the NY Stock exchange, a member of the President’s cabinet, the greatest bear of Wall Street, head of the world’s greatest monopoly, and the president of the Bank of International Settlement.

25 Years Later• Charles Schwab, (Steel Company) had

died in a bankrupt condition• Sam Insull (Utility) spent time as a

fugitive from justice, and died with $.12 in pocket.

• Howard Hobson, (Gas Company) insane.• Arthur Cutten (Wheat Speculator) had

died awaiting prosecution for tax evasion.• Richard Whitney, (NY Stock Exchange)

had just been released from Sing-Sing prison

25 Years Later• Albert Fall (President’s Cabinet) was

pardoned from prison so that he might die at home. (not accurate, lived 12 years).

• Jesse Livermore (bear of Wall Street) had committed suicide.

• Ivar Gruegar (head of Greatest Monopoly) had also committed suicide

• Leon Fraser (Bank of Int. Settl.) had likewise committed suicide

Bible Examples• Solomon (Powerful and wise man, but

married heathen women) 1 Kings 11

1 Kings 11:1-3“But King Solomon loved many foreign women,

as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.”


married heathen women) 1 Kings 11• Samson (War hero, but loved and trusted

an unworthy woman) Judges 16

Judges 16:4-6“Afterward it happened that he loved a woman

in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’ 6 So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.’”



an unworthy woman) Judges 16• Rich young ruler (Rich, religious, young,

but loved material wealth more than the Lord) Matthew 19

Matthew 19:20-22“The young man said to Him, "All these things I

have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?“ 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.“ 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

1 Timothy 6:9-10“But those who desire to be rich fall into

temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”



an unworthy woman) Judges 16• Rich young ruler (Rich, religious, young,

but loved material wealth more than the Lord) Matthew 19

• The rich man whose barns overflowed (Successful, thrifty, visionary, but was not rich toward God) Luke 12

Luke 12:18-21“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my

barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6:19-21“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Bible Examples, cont.• The rich man mentioned in the teaching of

Jesus with Lazarus (fared sumptuously every day, but neglected his soul) Luke 16

Luke 16:22-24“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried

by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’”

Hebrews 2:2-3“For if the word spoken through angels proved

steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”



• Judas Iscariot (one of 12, treasurer, loved admired respected, but allowed Satan to enter his heart) Luke 22:3

Luke 22:3-6“Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot,

who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”



• Judas Iscariot (one of 12, treasurer, loved admired respected, but allowed Satan to enter his heart) Luke 22:3

• Pontius Pilate (ruler of Judea, but yielded to public favor rather than being virtuous) Matthew 27

Matthew 27:22-24“Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with

Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ 23 Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’”

True Success!“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

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Mistakes of “Successful” Men