8/5/2020
Luke 18:31, 34 “And all things that are
written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished…And
they understood none of these things.”
Success
1.
the
accomplishment of an aim or a purpose
2.
the
attainment of popularity or profit
3.
a
person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity
After reading the three definitions that
Oxford Dictionary provided, I was struck by how the first one is not the one
that we tend to focus on. We often relate success with the other two that focus
on desires or prosperity. Most people, myself included, are fascinated by the
famous and the wealthy, and would just like to be able to have a fraction of
the way that they do. Their lives are usually nothing like the ones us regular
folks live. Covid has really brought this disparity into focus: they post on YouTube
or Instagram how they are “roughing it” during this time of pandemic…as they sit
in their lavish mansions or fly in their private jets. Many people aspire to
and dream about this kind of success, without giving much thought to how it is
often fleeting and shallow. Even celebrities are only as desirable as a fickle
public decrees. After all, we pretty much live in a world with a “What have you
done for me today?” mentality, because usefulness equals worth. In business, as
it is in a lot of relationships, everyone is expendable.
I, for one, am so grateful that God does
not look at me this same way, and if I am true to my walk with Him, my vision
of success will have nothing to do with prosperity. God does not see me as
expendable, but as His valued and beloved child. My success, as a believer,
only comes from how I live my life for Him and how much light and love I shine
on others. All else is temporal.
Jesus’ life certainly did not seem
successful by human standards. He had no earthly position of power or authority
in the eyes of men, and even His disciples truly did not understand His mission
while He walked among them. Many people listened to His teachings and came to
Him for healing, yet they also didn’t understand. Jesus was only a success in
the eyes of the Father. He came to Earth and totally lived out His purpose, whether
others understood or not. How many of us can say that? I, for one, really like
to have the approval of others in the things I do, but the only approval I
really need is from the Lord. As long as I am in His Word, praying, and following
His will for my life, I need nothing more. Success takes on the first definition
—the accomplishment of an aim or purpose—the profit is knowing that I have
served my God with a willing and faithful heart.
Chambers writes, “If we are in communion
with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, we shall no
longer try to find out what His purposes are. As we grow in the Christian life
it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say—Now why did God allow this
and that? Behind the whole thing lies the compelling of God.”
True success comes from how I reflect the
love of Jesus to others, and keep focused on and obedient to the One who guides
and gives me strength. My profit is knowing the love, mercy, and grace of
Jesus.
Who Am I – Casting Crowns
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