Have you ever felt that you should be more successful? Do you ever feel dissatisfied with your level of career achievement?
Maybe you feel like a failure if someone gets that promotion over you, or you suspect someone got a larger raise than you did?
But as you can see, much of these negative feelings come from “comparing” ourselves to others. And that means our focus is on the wrong thing; our focus should be on our relationship with Christ.
Very simply, the trappings of success can be just that – A TRAP!
Ask any smart businessperson if they would put their most valuable assets in an investment that was sure to go bad in a short amount of time. Their answer would be – of course – no!
Well, that’s exactly what people do when they put earthly success over their relationship with God. No matter how much money someone makes … how important their job title … or how big their house … they can’t take it with them. In a short span of years, those trappings will go to someone else.
Mark 8:36
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
You see, success is defined by our goals. The world defines success as money, power, fame, and status. But Christians have a different goal … to grow more like Christ and bring glory to God every day.
Our savior, Christ Jesus, was offered the entire world when Satan tempted Him.
Matthew 4:8-9
Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
A Definition Of Success For Christians
As followers of Christ, we are working toward the most precious success … a life pleasing to God and storing our treasure in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-20
“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal.”
“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal.”
Our co-workers, neighbors, and families could be impressed by our earthly successes, but how much better for them to see our good works that give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
After all, what would we rather here … “congratulations on your promotion” or …
Matthew 25:23
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
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