True Success

Today, I will discuss success. I have been reluctant to discuss this topic because I do not want to be associated with the teaching of "Theology of Success" or "Prosperity Gospel," which is not based on the complete teachings of the Bible. But two weeks ago, I felt the Holy Spirit put a burden on me to discuss this topic from a Biblical perspective.

If we ask people, "What does success mean to you?" we will get answers like this: managed to do something very well, became rich, got a high position at work, made big profits, managed to win a competition, became a champion in a sports competition, had many followers, became famous, etc. If we look at those answers, people often look at success in terms of the amount of profit, wealth obtained, or followers, as well as the level of progress, popularity, and achievements achieved.

In general, those things can be a success. However, as children of God, we need to understand success more fully and correctly. True success cannot be separated from God and His word! Let's read Joshua 1:1, 7, 8 – "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ... "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

If we pay attention, the source of Joshua's success came from GOD, by paying attention to and doing His word. A success apart from GOD, that does not glorify His name, or in ways contrary to His word is NOT true success! Psalm 1:1-3 states: "Great blessings belong to those who don't listen to evil advice, who don't live like sinners, and who don't join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord's teachings and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful" (ERV).

Illustration: Howard Robard Hughes, Jr (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, industrialist, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, hotelier, philanthropist, and one of the wealthiest men in the world. Hughes was one of the most influential aviators in history; he set several world air-speed records, built the Hughes H-1 Racer and H-4 "Hercules" aircraft (better known to history as the "Spruce Goose"), and acquired and expanded Trans World Airlines which later merged with American Aviation. Hughes was successful in his achievements and career but sadly didn't know God and His word. Hughes had eccentric behavior and a reclusive lifestyle later in life, which was partly caused by worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder. He only cuts his hair and nails once a year.

True success includes four aspects: spirituality, character, behavior, and fulfillment of the task or mission that GOD has given each of us. Let's discuss the first aspect:.

1. Spiritual aspect. The Lord Jesus said: "This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). True success begins and is based on knowing the true God or Jesus as our LORD and Savior. This knowledge of the true God brings us eternal life and gives us the right direction and purpose in life.

2. True success relates to the quality of our character, which is having the character of Christ. We will produce this character when the Holy Spirit leads our lives, so Paul describes this character as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (ERV). Here, success is not measured by what we do, but by who we are or our character. No matter how successful we are in work, study, ministry, or achieving high achievements in specific fields, if we do not have a Christ-like character, we are failures in the eyes of GOD!

3. The third success relates to our behavior in fully obeying God's will. Hebrews 11 mentions the heroes of faith. By world standards, they were not successful people. On the contrary, their lives were full of challenges and suffering. Verse 39 says: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” But in God's eyes, they were successful people because of their faith and obedience to God's will.