Attached to the computer screen in my office are six words written on a "sticky note." The words are, "Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Endurance and Gentleness." They come from 1 Timothy 6:11-12 where Paul urged his young friend, "Flee from all of this (referring to the foolish, harmful desires mentioned in vss. 9-10), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
There is a huge difference between being successful by worldly standards and being successful according to God's criteria. Frankly, I haven't always recognized this as I should have. For a long time I believe I was far more interested in being a "success" with regards to being a well known preacher for a large church who was sought after to speak across the country for various programs. I've been blessed to enjoy some measure of that but let me tell you - it's futile. You can never "keep up with the Jones's." Sure, there's a sense in which it's an exciting ride but there's no long term fulfillment in success merely for success's sake.
Now that I'm in the latter half of my life I suddenly find myself much more interested in success according to God's criteria. In fact - God never asks for our success. All he asks for is our faithfulness. This quote that recently came my way speaks to my desire.
We become godly as 'holy habits' such as love,
joy, and peace fill our character so that we do the
right thing at the right time with the right motive,
instinctively ... without thinking about it. ...
Spiritual formation does not occur by direct human
effort, but through a relational process whereby we
receive from God the power or ability to do what we
cannot do by our own effort. we do not produce the
outcome. That is God's business."
Life With God : Reading the Bible for Spiritual Formation
by Richard Foster (HarperOne, 2008), p.155
joy, and peace fill our character so that we do the
right thing at the right time with the right motive,
instinctively ... without thinking about it. ...
Spiritual formation does not occur by direct human
effort, but through a relational process whereby we
receive from God the power or ability to do what we
cannot do by our own effort. we do not produce the
outcome. That is God's business."
Life With God : Reading the Bible for Spiritual Formation
by Richard Foster (HarperOne, 2008), p.155
My prayer for each of you is that your success will not be measured by worldly standards alone. May it be the true faithfulness of a Child of God who lives and loves in relationship with others.
That's The Way I See It . . .
