In my head the title to this sounds like the "until next time" portions of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
Psalm 52:7 "See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction"
When we refuse to allow God to be Lord of our life, and lead us in His ways, all we can do is try to find strength and stability in our personal accomplishments. However, like the man depicted in this verse, when we put our accomplishments and possessions in the place of God all such refuge is found in the very thing that is seen by God - the Only God - as His enemy.
We all from time to time place significant value on worldly things; vehicles, social/economic/corporate status and fashion to name just a few. Even within the Christian circles there can be a tendancy to place unnecessary elevated worth on peers and leaders. The pastor who has the nice car, pressed suit, filled agenda and extra financial investments can sometimes be seen as a better pastor, or more put together of a leader than the one who drives a modest car, wears a t-shirt and jeans and maybe isn't always clean shaved.
Paul, in his 1st letter to the Corinthians writes, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy" (14:1). We are called to desire and pursue things that are not material in nature. Yet as he unravels why he says especially to desire prophecy we see that these gifts hold a purpose, a Kingdom enriching - human soul saving - purpose.
Our ability to attain such gifts depends on our willingness to seek a closer and enriching relationship with our Father in Heaven. Although the suit and flashy car may carry a sense of accomplishment with them, your ability to function in the spiritual gifts that you have been given from God is a far better measure of how close you are with God, thus measure the qualitative growth someone else can attain by following in your footsteps.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" - (Matthew 6:33).
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