To be successful would seem to be a goal (overtly or not) with all who are within the bounds of humanity.
According to freedictionary.com,
success is:
“achievement of something desired, planned or attempted.”
Who wouldn’t want for such things? To not desire achievement would be to live an apathetic life.
We are encouraged to fight, strive, conquer, overcome, use people, take, and spend time with those who do the same.
Recently I was struck by the dichotomy of what the world says is successful living, and what Jesus says is successful living. Like almost everything else that came from the lips of the Son of God, what He says of being a successful person is up-side-down teaching, compared with what our human expectation would be.
“The world says, follow the right people and be a success.
And Jesus says follow me and be crucified — and this is success.
The world says, follow the right people and be a success.
And Jesus says follow me and be crucified — and this is success.
The world says get rich now — or at least very soon.
And Jesus says give it away now — because “soon” might be too late.
The world says you find your best life when you spend it all.
And Jesus says whoever loses his life for me will find it — and if you try to save your life, you’ll lose it.”
Ann Voskamp
Reading what Jesus says of success means feeling that tightening in our throats. For success is not ours, through our goodness, our education, our climb up the occupational ladder. It is His, through His grace, and our … obedience.
Success may indeed sit in boardrooms, locker rooms and concert halls, but it also sits in prison cells, in senior’s care facilities, in homeless shelters and in ‘average’ homes.
May we all struck often by how the ultimate example of success lived his life.
“Whoever wants to save his life will definitely lose it.”
Mark 8:35
itsawonderfilledlife 