4:245 – Change How You Measure Success

#faithbites #faithjourney success

Setting

What will people say when it’s my time in the box? When my life is over, how will other’s measure my success? Will it be in my wealth or my possessions? Perhaps how my wife and I raised our kids? Or is it in the acts of service I performed for others? No matter how it’s measured, my success is in following the Lord and his commands.

The picture I’m sharing here was first shared in a support group for a good friend who has cancer. It was meant to inspire and it did it for me. We can’t measure ourselves against what others think is successful. We have to measure it against what God says is successful. When we touch people’s lives, we dramatically alter their course forever. You matter! You are valued.

Today’s Questions: How do we focus on impacting people’s lives positively instead of other measures of success? What can we do to change the conversation and realize that we do matter!

Scripture

• Proverbs 3:1-4 – My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
• 1 Kings 2:3-4 – and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go ⁴ and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

Reflection

Nowhere in the Bible that I could find does God tell us that we are successful when we have houses, money, cars (chariots), or other possessions. He tells us that success is in keeping his commandments and walking with him. He promises that if we do this, we will be successful. Our families will prosper and we will find his favor as well as the favor of man. God is saying that this success isn’t only heavenly but also Earthly. Our society as a whole may look to material wealth as a success but individuals see the true character of an individual. We need to walk in lockstep with God, help others, and not only will we have success but they will too.

As we close, please don’t discount your heart of service towards others. This is how God wants us to live. He will help us to prosper.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as we say goodbye to one friend, let us see how her life was measured. It wasn’t in her wealth or possessions but in her passion for you, her passion for service, and her impact on others. Help us to focus on that type of wealth rather than that of the world. You tell us to look at things in heaven and not on Earth. Help us to do that. Please change our hearts to focus on what you tell us is important. Success if following you, loving you, and loving others as ourselves. We pray this in your name, Amen.