The Measure of Success

How do you define success? Is your life a success? God measures success with a different yardstick than the one our society uses. The world defines it in material terms. One well-known motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, says: “Success is doing what you want, when you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.”

In other words, he thinks success is all about you. It’s all about self: selffulfillment, self-enrichment, and selfempowerment. That’s how the world measures success. But is that God’s measure? Robbin’s definition of success sounds to me like a recipe for sin: “Sin comes from doing what you want, when you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.” I don’t see his definition as a true measure of a successful life.

We live in a self-centered society. But does God measure success with the same yardstick the world uses? Most people define success in terms of achieving goals, acquiring wealth, and having prestige. Or by their status, or how much power and influence they have. “Successful” people enjoy the “good life.” They think success means being financially secure, emotionally secure, being surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

There are some in this world who seem to be successful – the very rich, the movie stars, the sports stars, etc. Their example is emulated, and their accomplishments are noticed. Others want to be like them. Most people’s definitions of success only deal with the “here and now” of this life.

But success is measured and defined differently by God. God’s measure of success involves our obedience and faithfulness to Him, regardless of opposition and personal cost. His measure of success is whether we are being loyal to Him, and whether we are accomplishing His goals and purposes for our life.

Proverbs 3:5 admonishes: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” If you are walking in the path the Lord has directed you into, then your life is a success – regardless of wealth, earthly prestige, or carnal accomplishments.

Such success requires wisdom. Because man’s measures of success are foolishness to God. Proverbs 3:13-26 teaches that attaining godly wisdom is the route to true success. Verse 22: “So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.”

Matthew 25:14-30 explains the parable of the man giving his servants talents. Some traded and gained more talents, one buried his talent and received condemnation. Note: those who gained, whether much or little, received the full commendation: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Verses 21, 23.

An important point of the parable is that God measures success through faithfulness. We are to be both good and faithful. The man who gained nothing, received no reward. Rather, he lost what he had. Verses 27-28.

The most successful man of all time, Jesus, died penniless. Nearly 100 years ago, Dr. James Allan Francis wrote:

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of his divine manhood.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

That is a statement of a successful life. But mere humans can also be successful in the only measure that really matters. Never forget this important point: True success comes through Christian service.

God measures success by how we serve others. The world believes we gain success by GAINING wealth, fame, and respect for ourselves. God is telling us we gain success, or a good life, when we GIVE wealth, fame, and respect to others! So, don’t measure success by what we GAIN; measure it by what we GIVE.

The Apostle Paul was executed as an enemy of the state, owning no property, not recognized beyond the small Christian community, but he was also an outstanding success. Note how Paul evaluated his successfulness in life: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” II Timothy 4:6-8.

There is no mention of Paul applauding himself for having become wealthy, nor is there any mention of Paul patting himself on the back for having achieved great fame and notoriety. He understood that success is not what we can achieve or gain in terms of worldly things. Sometimes he had much, and sometimes he had little (Philippians 4:12- sometimes abased; sometimes abounding). But in all things, he was content. He wrote to Timothy, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I Timothy 6:6.

Thus, Paul measured success by the state of his heart in relation to God. Godliness, faithfulness, and contentment were paramount in terms of how he wanted his life defined.

Jeremiah was an absolute failure when judged by the world’s definition of success. For 40 years he served as God’s spokesman. But when he spoke, no one listened and responded. He was rejected by his neighbors, his family, the priests and prophets, friends, his audiences, and the kings.

Jeremiah was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver God’s messages. He was thrown into prison and into a cistern. But in God’s eyes he was a success. He faithfully and courageously proclaimed God’s word and His messages. And he was obedient to his calling. In the world to come, Jeremiah will be recognized as successful, while the rich nobles, and the kings of his day will be remembered no more.

From the testimony of Jeremiah and others, but especially Paul, we conclude that success contains the following elements:

1) live life as a living sacrifice, pouring out the love of God to others in service and ministry for the sake of Christ,

2) fight the good fight of faith, continuing to preach the gospel and contending for truth and sound doctrine, living in accord with Christian principles, without compromise, even though it could mean persecution or even death II Timothy 3:14: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.”

3) finish the course, persevering in godliness without falling into sin or backsliding. I Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway,” and,

4) keep the faith, continuing to serve Christ and abounding in the work of the Lord, never growing tired of loving Jesus and His saints I Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Because Paul was faithful in his testimony, faithful to His calling, faithful in preaching the gospel, faithful to the saints, and faithful to God, he could say with certainty that he would be crowned a victor by Christ in eternal glory.

He knew that his life would result in praise, glory, and honor for the sake of Christ because he didn’t compromise or pander to the changing desires of people, but he kept teaching the truth of God’s Word. He knew what God had called him to do, and he was going to do it even if nobody listened. Thankfully, many did respond in faith, and Paul took great joy in this. Yet even good responses were not the fundamental criteria by which he measured his own success.

He knew if he was faithful to Christ and to His Word, proclaiming the gospel to the lost and loving them as Christ loved them, he would be deemed successful by Christ, Whose opinion alone matters. Our Lord said in Matthew 6:19-21. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I want to say to every saint of God: your life can be a success, regardless of earthly, material things. If you are faithful in your church, serving your Lord and His people, then your ultimate success is assured.

Don’t fret if you don’t see material rewards now; your treasure in heaven is your reward and the proof of your success.

Don’t get jealous of the material success of others. Psalm 37 warns against such jealousy, and forthrightly declares the reward of the righteous. You may spend your days in poverty, or in weakness; but if you fill your time with prayer and in service to your heavenly King, then you will be successful by heaven’s true measure.

We must not let ourselves get taken in by the pull of society to want to be loved by the world, chasing its misguided definitions of success. In the church, we must not change our teaching or theology in an effort to try to get better “results.”

All we are called to do is to plant seeds and water them as God provides the opportunities and strength; God alone gives the growth. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” True fruit is something that happens as we obey Christ and abide in Him. We cannot generate our own fruit or redefine what fruit is.

If we are faithful to Christ and to His Word, keeping His commands, true spiritual work will be accomplished. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10. And we will be rewarded accordingly.

There is no greater or higher measure of success than the praise of our Savior, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). If we are faithful servants, we are also successful by Christ’s standards because we will bear abundant spiritual fruit. May it be His glory alone which we seek as we faithfully strive to honor and obey Him no matter the cost or what people might think.

You can finish your course with joy, and die without regrets. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” I Corinthians 15:55. The sting will be gone; the victory will be ours in that great day when Jesus makes all things new.