“He’s really successful.”
What comes to mind when you read that?
For most people it involves money. When we use the term “success”, or ”successful” it typically infers financial wealth or significant income. That’s certainly the case in the world’s eyes. And, oftentimes that can be the case with Christians as well.
Should the people of God have a different concept of success than the world? Absolutely!
So, as beloved children of God, what’s our definition of success? I think this is a really important question for us to answer. If you don’t intentionally define what success is for you, through a biblical lens, then you’ll naturally drift into the world’s definition which is at odds to God’s definition.
What does God have to say about success?
Ok, first things first, success for God’s people is found in obeying God’s word.
“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.” Joshua 1:8
God’s word is our standard for success. We need to understand what God says He values. Is knowing and loving God all we need concern ourselves with? I would suggest “no”. Jesus summed everything up in 2 commands:
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Bottom line: whatever we do we need to love God and love people. And we need to understand that love is a verb. It requires action.
Paul tells us,
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
We have been created to work, to partner with Jesus is God’s Kingdom coming and His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. Work is not part of the fall, God placed Adam and Eve in the garden to work it, to partner with Him in His purposes on earth. We were actually created in Jesus to do good works which God has already prepared for us to do. God has goods works planned for you to do with Him.
In the parable of the talents Jesus explains to us that we’ve all been given talents by our Master to invest. Our Master, God, is expecting a return on His investment. The Master does not tell the servants how to invest the talents they have been given – He simply asks for a return. Matthew 25:14-29
And what is the reward for faithfully investing our talents and creating a return for our Master?
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:21
You’ve been given unique talents/gifts/abilities by your Father to invest on His behalf. Peter tells us that our gifts are to be used to serve others,
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
So what is success from a biblical perspective?
It’s being a student of God’s Word so we can understand His heart for loving Him and loving others. It’s investing the talents God has given us to serve others and partner with Him in the work of His Kingdom coming and His will being done on earth. It’s partnering with our Father in the good works that he has prepared in advance for us to do.
Why do you go to work? If you go to work to simply make money you’ve missed the heart of God. We go to work to partner with God in His purposes on earth. Simple said, that’s loving God and loving people – understanding that love is a verb.
Love has legs, so let’s get going.