Success in the world means power, influence, money, prestige. But in the Christian world, it means pleasing God.
- Charles Colson
Can a man achieve both? Absolutely. Why are the men and women who achieve both not known? Because the people who achieve both have no need to be recognized. If they truly please God, then naturally they will please their family and friends. If those requirements are fulfilled, the needs of strangers (the media) cease to matter.
However, I believe it is at least twice as difficult to achieve both. The two main reasons that come to mind are:
- If a person is truly pleasing to God, then “success in the world” becomes less of a priority. Why would one need to strive for power, influence, money, and prestige when they are already pleasing to their creator? However, I would venture to guess that “success in the world” is an unintended by-product of pleasing God. Much like the saying: “You cannot out-give God”, meaning that the more you give the more you will be rewarded by God.
- The values required to be pleasing to God, unfortunately, do not necessarily line up with the values required to achieve “success in the world”. Whether it be steroid abuse in athletics or corruption at the top of corporations (both profit and non-profit) or political maneuvering in the middle of corporations. It is difficult in today’s society to convince a child that sometimes you have to “take the long way around”. Especially when the person who took the shortcut is being rewarded.
Corresponding verse:
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
- 1 John 3:22 NKJV
And a more contemporary version:
And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
- 1 John 3:22 AMP
0 Responses to “Success 3”