Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Corinthians 4:2-5
Many people evaluate success in life by possessions. How big is the house? How fancy is the car? How large is the bank balance? How impressive is the wardrobe? Yet while having money and things can make life easier (although those create their own problems) that is not the measure of success in the eyes of God. He values faithful stewardship. David Livingstone wrote, “I place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of God. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time or eternity.”
This world is not all there is. In fact, it pales in comparison to the world to come. We are going to spend eternity with God, and none of the things of earth that matter so much to people here will matter in eternity. Gold has great value here, but it is used as a paving material for the street of Heaven. God is not measuring how much we have, but how faithful we are in using what He has given to us for eternal things. “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).