True Success: The Standard of Success
What is Success? A favorable outcome is the correct or desired result of an attempt; satisfactory completion of something; or the attainment of wealth, favor, eminence, respect, or fame.
What is True Success? Doing The WILL of God! Who is the most successful man ever? JESUS. Did He enjoy or accomplish any of the things you or I would call success? No.
What was the Measure and the Standard of His Success? Psalms 40: 7-8 - “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the Volume of The Book. It is written of Me, I delight to do Thy Will, O My God: yea, Thy Law is within My heart.” John 8:28 - “Then said JESUS unto them, When ye have lifted up The Son of Man, then shall ye know that I AM He and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.”
John 8:38 - “I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.” John 9:4 - “I must work the Works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.”
Our Lord Jesus said this of His own submission to The WILL of God The Father in John 5:30 - “I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My Judgments is Just; because I seek not Mine own will, but The Will of The Father which hath sent Me.” Our Lord Jesus came here to do and work the Works of His Heavenly Father, even unto His death. This is True Success!!!
Our Lord Jesus says in John 10:30 - “I and My Father are One.” We should always ask ourselves as Believers in Christ Jesus, “Who are we One with?” Is it with ourselves for our own personal and self-centered desires and will, or are we “All In” for our Lord Jesus Christ and His Will for us, just like He came and served our Heavenly Father’s Will with His life?
So let’s consider this: every gift, talent, anointing, knowledge, skill, ability, creativity, genius, our faculties, callings, aesthetics (beauty), the pleasure of enjoyment, recreation, amusement and entertainment, provision, protection, victory, triumphs, accomplishments, achievements, approval, popularity, power in authority, power in influence, favor, access, impact. status, station, stature, standing in society, lifestyle, wealth, quality of life, standard of living, and everything else going our way is “NOT REAL” success in and of itself unless we do it and accomplish it by The Will and Ways of God our Father. Now, it is a truth that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Yet we still need Jesus’ help to do it! We have to be ever mindful of the Scripture text in Luke 12:15, our Lord Jesus says this: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Success in and of itself unless we do it and accomplish it by The Will and Ways of God our Father. Now, it is a truth that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Yet we still need Jesus’ help to do it! We have to be ever mindful of the Scripture text in Luke 12:15, our Lord Jesus says this: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
We often times hear folk say that they are self-made. Self-made; by its basic definition is one having achieved success or prominence by one’s own efforts. Is there anyone that is really, truly self-made? No. No man or woman is an island; every success and every individual’s success is the result of some help. We are dependent on God and interdependent upon one another. No one succeeds by his or her own efforts only, solely, and alone. The Lord Jesus in John 15:5 says this: “I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing!”
Final thoughts: Our God views our Pre-Ordained and Pre-Destined Success differently from how you and I view it. His thoughts are higher than ours and so are His Ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We should always strive for His Mastery in our lives for the Glory, Honor, Praise, and Namesake of The Lord our God. When we strive this way, we will always succeed and accomplish and achieve “True Success!”