Are you doing more and enjoying it less? Growing up, I often heard, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” It took me a while to realize the devil also uses busyness to steal, kill, and destroy. The 1947 Christmas movie The Bishop’s Wife challenges the idea that more work, higher status, and impressive achievements mean a better life.
After being promoted to bishop, a clergyman, played by David Niven, loses his joy and sacrifices almost everything else in the pursuit of success. In trying to leave his mark and please his wealthy benefactor he obsesses over building a great cathedral. He neglects his wife, daughter, life’s simple pleasures, and the other important relationships in his life in order to accomplish what he thinks will glorify God.
In desperation, the bishop prays for help. The angel Dudley, played by Cary Grant, appears, offering to lighten the bishop’s workload. The bishop refuses his help.
Since the bishop won’t let Dudley help him, the angel engages with the people the bishop has neglected. He accompanies the bishop’s wife on errands and throws in some serendipitous fun along the way. He tells Bible stories to the bishop’s daughter and teaches her how to throw snowballs. His simple acts of kindness to the hired help, interest in the inner-city ministry, and visit with the bishop’s old friend restore faith and bring joy to those who’ve lost it.
Seeing the happiness of his wife and everyone else Dudley touches only amplifies the bishop’s grouchiness. Dudley, whether intentionally or not, makes the bishop jealous for what he already has, what he has forsaken in order to prove himself as a bishop. The bishop resents Dudley and can’t see how he’s the source of his own misery.
I won’t spoil the ending. But the story reminded me that worldly success can rob us of true riches when we assign the wrong value to it. Before his promotion, this minister and his family happily served a poor church together. In his elevated post he forgot Whom he served. The expectations of a wealthy benefactor drove him. He replaced his calling to love God, his family, and those he was sent to serve with a less important but more striking accomplishment.
Worldly success can rob us of true riches when we assign the wrong value to it. #RechargeWednesday @DebbieWWilson Click To TweetBuilding tangible monuments brings a fleeting sense of accomplishment, but lunching with your spouse, playing with your child, and showing kindness to a stranger garner heaven’s applause. I may always fight the refrain, “After I finish this, then….” I appreciate the reminder not to sacrifice true treasures for glamorous facades of success. Some “successes” aren’t worth the price they inevitably cost.
Building tangible monuments brings a fleeting sense of accomplishment, but lunching with your spouse, playing with your child, and showing kindness to a stranger garner heaven’s applause. #RechargeWednesday @DebbieWWilson Click To TweetJesus said, “Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not!” (Mark 8:36, GNT).
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LINKUP is open! This first week of the New Year, my friend @debbieWWilson shares lessons from an old movie that gives us pause: 'some successes aren't worth the price they inevitably cost.' Join us? Click To Tweet
We watched this movie for the first time this Christmas! Your analysis is perfect and so timely.
We loved the St. Bernard!
I forgot to mention him! Thanks, Michele.
I saw this movie for the first time a few months ago. You drew great lessons from it. It’s so easy to get off track while pursuing what we think is right. We constantly need to check our visions and motives against God’s Word.
Barbara, you are right. It is easy to allow the world to define success and how we should please God instead of God’s Word.
We need to check our motives in all we do. This is something worth thinking about each day >>> “Worldly success can rob us of true riches when we assign the wrong value to it.”
Joanne, too often we let people with strong voices drown out what Jesus whispers. Blessings to you!
I’ve not seen this movie, but it sounds impactful! And you teach us such a great lesson today: don’t get caught up in “success” and miss the moments of ministry.
Lisa, you summed it up well! Thanks so much.
Debbie, what a perfect analogy to how the enemy distracts us from true treasures of the Kingdom. Our lives are often steeped in busyness instead of the Father’s business.
Karen, it’s easy to be swept in with the herd mentality instead of listening to our Father. Thanks!
I love the value of simple delights, especially time with my people!
Rebecca, don’t you know that God created those simple delights for us?
I have never seen this classic. I must put it on my watch list. Thank you for your thoughts here.
Lauren, I enjoy Cary Grant and this one has a good message.
Debbie, I enjoyed your post! The Bishop’s Wife is a favorite holiday movie with my husband and me, and when we watched it again this year, I was impacted with the fact that ambition caused the bishop to lose sight of his original calling. So refreshing to be reminded of my tendency to rush into “more important” things. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you, Donna.
I fight that same refrain, Debbie! Thanks for this reminder about what really matters- and the movie recommendation, it sounds good!
Bethany, it’s good to know I’m not alone. Happy New Year.