Success is usually has something to do with BIG, more, attention, influence... am I right? If we adopt big, powerful, or rich as our standard, we become very hard to be around because we're always pushing our agenda, trying to hit the mark. It's hard to sincerely love people in the ordinary situations of life while looking for the big moment, the chance for success. This is true whether we are talking about pastors, real estate agents, or plumbers! If the focus is on 'success,' serving people will become a casualty.
The Bible lauds faithfulness in life and contentment in service, not power and influence as marks of success! Eugene Peterson, best known as the translator of The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, has served the church as a pastor, teacher, and author for nearly a half century. He writes that his work as a pastor is a lot like farm work. He ought to know for he was raised rurally in Montana, where he has now returned in retirement. Anyway, he says, "Pastoral work consists of modest, daily, assigned work... routines similar to cleaning out the barn, mucking out the stalls, spreading manure, and pulling weeds. This is not bad work in itself, but if we expected to ride out on a glistening black stallion, in daily parades... we will be severely disappointed." That isn't just true for professional ministers. It is true about the Christian life. God does call us to ride in parades. He calls us to service, to faithfully taking on the opportunities that He gives us each day to make a small difference, to care for another, to love Him humbly. Peterson observes this: "Spirituality is not about ends or benefits or things; it's about means. It's about how you do this. How do you live in reality? So, how do you help all these people? The needs are huge. Well, you do it the way Jesus did it. You do it one at a time. You can't do gospel work, kingdom work in an impersonal way." (Full text of the interview - http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/003/26.42.html )
During a discussion about His return and the subsequent judgment, Jesus was asked about preparedness for that awesome moment. Take a look at His reply- “I’m talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns." (Luke 12:42-44, NLT) In other of his teaching stories, Jesus explained that God expects us to use the abilities and spiritual gifts given to us faithfully and diligently. Some of us are multi-talented, some are singularly gifted, but we can all be faithful!
What is of greatest importance is God-focus over self-focus. Much success literature explains how to reach one's highest potential, to achieve peak performance. The techniques and methods work - to make us all we can become on our own. But that's not the goal of the Believer! We are called to become all that God wants us to be and that we cannot accomplish without getting to know Him and living in His will - today. Perhaps you need to lower your sights! Strange suggestion, isn't it? What I'm trying to say is that if you're looking too far to the horizon, waiting for 'the dream,' you will miss out on the opportunities that exist right in front of you to serve God.
So, be faithful and leave 'success' to God.
Right now, would you take a moment and consciously place yourself at His call?
"I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.
We look to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." (Psalm 123:1-2, NLT)
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