How Jesus Measures Success
Illustration: One thing I do, . . . I press toward the goal. --Philippians 3:13-14
In Daniel Schaeffer’s book on Esther, Dancing With A Shadow, he summarizes with a single sentence the lives of each of the main characters in that wonderful Old Testament book. For Ahasuerus, the powerful warrior king of Persia, it was: "Success in life is all in the planning." For the faithful Mordecai: "The price of obedience is never too high." And for Queen Esther: "What I am is more important than what I have." She proved it when she risked her crown (and life) to intercede with Ahasuerus on her people’s behalf.
I was discussing these one-line descriptions with some co-workers who were also reading Schaeffer’s book. Someone wondered how we might summarize in a single statement our purpose for living. One woman candidly admitted, "My only goal in life is to catch up." Sound familiar? For others it might be, "To have as little trouble in life as I can." Or you may say with Haman, "You can never have too much."
But as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be able to say with the apostle Paul, "One thing I do, . . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).
Is that the purpose of your life? --DCE
Do you pursue a life of wealth and fame?
A mocking epitaph is all you’ll claim;
Let God replace your vain and selfish aim
With lasting goals that glorify His name. --Gustafson
We fulfill our purpose when we serve our Creator. (Our Daily Bread)
1. Jesus knew that success in human terms is often subject to the relative values of peoples’ cultures. Jesus said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul." (Mark 8:36) When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, many people believed success could be measured by ones’ wealth, status or position of power. However, the Lord Jesus taught that even lowly fishermen like Peter, James and John were successful because they chose to surrender everything and follow the great fisher of men. (Matt. 4:19) Ask the Lord for greater discernment, commitment and trust in the God who has the last say on who is successful.
2. Jesus knew that success is often fleeting with time. The Lord Jesus said to the disciples, "When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? Twelve, they replied. And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? They answered, ’Seven.’ He said to them, ’Do you still not understand?" (Mark 8:19-21) The disciples thought that success lay in an event rather than in the person of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you find your success in Jesus Christ - worshipping Him, loving Him, and doing all of His will for His greater glory - therein is eternal success.
3. Jesus knew that success means little unless it is lasting. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Mark 13:31) Ask the Lord to help you gain a greater eternal perspective on your relationships, your ministries and your opportunities to make a everlasting success today.
Illustration: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys. --Matthew 6:20
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) of Austria was one of the greatest violinists of all time. He thrilled audiences around the world with his skillful playing. Although he could have commanded the highest fees, he refused to do so and never became rich.
Kreisler once said, "I never look upon the money I earn as my own. It is public money. It is only a fund entrusted to my care for proper disbursement." Speaking for his wife as well as himself, he said, "I feel morally guilty if I order a costly meal, for it deprives someone else of a slice of bread--some child perhaps of a bottle of milk . . . . In all these years of my so-called success in music, we have not built a home for ourselves. Between it and us stand all the homeless in the world!"
What a challenge to disciples of a Master who voluntarily left the ivory palaces of glory, and who had no place he could call His home here on earth (Matt. 8:20). Are we as concerned as Fritz Kreisler was about people who are hungry and homeless? Do we really care about people who need the Bread of Life--those who will have no eternal home unless they hear and believe the gospel?
We ought to be thankful for all that God has given to us. Let’s be people who care. --VCG
Help us, Lord, while we are living
To be faithful, kind, and true;
Jesus, bless our humble giving
So that others may find You. --Murray
People who care are people who share (Our Daily Bread)
4. Jesus knew that human success is the goal for most people. The Lord Jesus realized that real success is only given from the Father’s supernatural power. Jesus said, "All power and authority have been GIVEN to me." (Matt. 28:18-20) Ask the Lord to help you lift your perspectives above those of our human nature. Beseech the Lord to help you demonstrate that eternal success is something that is given in terms of qualitative and quantitative spiritual and ministry fruit.
5. Jesus knew that human success is often a temptation that leads to greater worries, riches and troubles in this life. The Lord Jesus said, "Still, others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:18,19) Ask the Lord to help you overcome any temptations that will choke out the power of the word of God in your life thereby hindering you from yielding eternal fruit.
6. Jesus knew that human success is often sought out of pride, selfish ambition and idolatry. Jesus knew that the rich young ruler thought he was successful, yet worried about his eternal destiny. Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come, follow me." (Matt. 19:21) Ask the Lord to help you not cling so tenaciously to your pride, selfish ambitions or idols that you miss out on the most important success found in Jesus Christ and His will for your life.
7. Jesus knew that human success is ultimately unsatisfying. The Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6) Ask the Lord to help you develop a greater appetite for God’s righteousness, love, purpose, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. He will provide you with greater satisfaction than you can get from any other thing.
8. Jesus knew that human success often runs counter to success in the eyes of God. Jesus said, "I have accomplished the work you have given me to do." (John 17:4) Human success often makes one so preocuppied that many people fail to accomplish His purposes for their life.
9. Jesus knew that human success is thought to come from hard work and intelligence. Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:7,8) Ask the Lord to help you realize that success comes more from trusting in the Lord rather than trying to succeed in your own power.
10. Jesus knew that eternal success is always judged inadequately by finite human minds. Jesus said, "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matt. 6:1) Ask the Lord to let you humbly serve Him in sincerity and truth without worrying about how others will judge your performance. Only the Lord’s evaluations are completely impartial, true and everlasting. God is the only one who can give success without adding any
sorrow to it.
11. Jesus knew that eternal success is measured best by how obedient we are to the Father’s will. Jesus said, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48) Ask the Lord to help you succeed by being filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you can walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord in ALL respects. Ask Him to help you bear fruit in every good work while you increase in the knowledge of God. (Col. 1:9-11)
12. Jesus knew that success comes from meditating and obeying scripture. The Lord often remembered the words of Josh 1;8 , "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to obey it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will have good success." Ask the Lord to help you learn how to meditate throughout your day so that you can become more prosperous and successful in God’s terms.
