For a while I have struggled with the modern common definition of success, a tertiary qualification, a house and a car or two and marriage as a cherry on top. How did people measure success a millennium ago, when there were no educational institutions, nor were there fancy housing and cars.
Whenever people speak of success they always associate it with these tangible yet destructible things, forgetting the more permanent/crucial articles of success. Such articles include success in keeping a healthy relationship with people and nature, thus companions, family and friends, and also good eating habits, socio-economically responsible through personal, private or public charitable offerings, and respectful to nature in the sense of taking care of your pet(s) and plant life. I am being general here of course, but the idea is that success shouldn't be measured by things that can be lost through one tragic event such as a collapse of an economy: for the things often listed in measuring success were lost by some due to the economic depression more than a year ago. However it is only through death that one can lose the articles I have mentioned in my casual definition.
Personally I will never think myself a success until I have success within my family, in terms of having a healthy relationship with them, and in my marriage [when I am married of course], in my business affairs, in fulfilling God's purpose for my life [more significantly], in my socio-economic roles, in sustaining a good living for all those I can help and therefore everything I do. I have set my eyes for the success which David had. The bible says David "had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him" 1 Samuel 18:14. In everything I do I wish to have success and have no wasted efforts, but I understand that what underlies that is the presence of the Lord.
I will continue to seek Him, I need Him, because I want to achieve what He wants me to achieve. I am His, and thus I seek only to please He, after saving a certain woman from hypocrites my Lord said "He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him" John 8:29. Let me please Him.
I need Success God's way because only then can I know that I am pleasing Him, success in one aspect of my life is not enough, not stating that I don't want challenges but in fact stating that I need VICTORY over all challenges I encounter, which will therefore be confirmation of my being a fragrant offering of thanksgiving to the Lord, which is acceptable and pleasing to my Lord.
Let us try to have Success God's Way, and see if we will not be content.
