“Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was successful.” 2 Chronicles 31:21 NLT
“Satisfaction is a better measurement of success than the rewards that come from it.”
My thoughts today are about “success with satisfaction.”
Success seems everyone’s preferred goal; nobody means to fail. But it’s not really that simple. I have seen many people that have every success and all that goes with that. They should be satisfied, but they’re not; they should feel content, but they can’t. First, you should know how to measure success? Clarify an accurate and personal definition of success. If you don’t have your own benchmarks for measuring success, how will you know when you achieve it, or recognize should you have fail? Don’t allow other people’s ideas determine what real success is for you. The world’s values are vastly different than God’s. Be clear about which you use to measure your effort and energy?
Someone has observed, “As you climb the ladder of success, be sure your ladder is leaning against the right wall.” Will money be your proof? Will others’ applause or acclaim convince you of your success? I saw a bumper sticker that said. “At the end, the one with the most toys wins!” But does he or she really win? Is that all that success is? If that were true, it would be very sad!
In a few weeks it will be my birthday, and in a few months I will be releasing my role and responsibilities at the church I have loved and served for 36 years. That has sparked a bit of curiosity from others about “my retirement,” as well as my own reflection about my life to this date, and the time beyond this. I don’t think I am retiring, just changing my ministry assignment. Here is a confidence I share with the Psalmist, “But as for me, I trust in you, o Lord. You are my God. My times are in Your hand.” Psalms 31:14-15. They always have been; they continue to be so.
I think that contentment and satisfaction with what a person achieves is a more reliable measurement of success than any and all external and tangible rewards derived from those achievements. For me, the arenas where I find the greatest satisfaction and most prize any measure of success are: family, ministry, and meaningful friendships. I think that Gayle and I will count our success by the fruit of our children’s and grand-children’s lives and successes – the simple things of enjoying one another’s company and accomplishments, as well as sharing the faith and values we hold in common. However anyone else chooses to measure success – our family and faith is central to our definition of real success in life.
I choose to evaluate my life and ministry on the sole basis of obedience and faithfulness to God’s call. Your honest answer to these questions reveals any success or failure: “have I done what God asked, and been faithful where He placed me?” I am grateful for whatever measure of outward success that we have experienced these first forty-eight years of ministry, but in my heart I know that whatever success might be attributed, God’s grace and people’s graciousness have been its true source. I have simply tried to obey God and serve Him and others to the best of my opportunities and abilities – “seeking God and working wholeheartedly.”
I value the kind opinions of others, but the judgment of God I prize most. Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NKJV/4:1-5 NLT. The Bible is straightforward about the origin of any success: “Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.” 2 Chronicles 31:21 NLT. Did you notice the clear cause and effect? With his whole heart, he sought God; “as a result,” he was very successful! Putting God first, or leaving God out, has predictable effects for your benefit or loss.
My prayer for you today is the understanding that every success that doesn’t include God is failure, not success at all.