Success

Mum is giving a talk on success to the year 11s and 12s at Grace tomorrow.
Success- it’s been a topic of conversation in our house for the last few weeks.
What is it? How do we measure it?

Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of success is: the accomplishment of what is desired or aimed at; achievement; attainment of wealth, fame, prosperity, etc.

So, technically, if I aim to dig a hole in the backyard, and I do it, then I’ve succeeded- I’ve achieved my aim, met my target. I’ve successfully dug a hole- but does that make me successful?

There is an unstated estimation of worthiness needed to claim general success. So you’re a successful digger of holes. It’s not special. It’s not worthy enough for a grave digger to claim success when he accomplishes his goals.

So the question becomes: What is a worthy aim?

The world has plenty of answers to that question.

Money is worthy. Having lots of it. Good looks are worthy. And glamour. Popularity is worthy. Fame is worthy. Being the best at something is worthy- think sport. Being professional is worthy. Making it to the top of one’s chosen ladder is worthy.

There are a lot of things that could instantly shatter one’s worldy success. A disfiguring car accident. A stock market crash. A slip of the tongue. Tonsillitis, for singers.
We don’t have control over these factors.

God does.

What does God consider to be a worthy aim?
What does God say success is?
Without reaching for the one-line, “correct” answers, first consider three real-life people who are mentioned in the Bible.

John the Baptist.

He was the cousin of Jesus. John was nearly 30 when he moved to the desert. He made his own clothes from camel hair, and ate locusts and honey.
Not rich, not fashionable.
His job was to preach repentance, and to baptise people.

John knew his purpose in life: to prepare the people for Jesus. He worked towards this goal with everything that was in him.

Later, when Jesus was attracting the crowds that had already forgotten about John, he was thrown into prison. Shortly after, John was beheaded.

A short summary of John’s life makes pretty bleak reading. He doesn’t have any of the signs of success about him. Except – it could be said that he achieved his goals. He completed his mission. Was he successful?

Daniel.

Here’s a man we can all respect.

The Bible says that Daniel was a healthy and handsome young man- intelligent, well-educated, a born leader- and he was of noble blood, if not a member of the royal family itself!

Daniel rose quickly through the ranks of the Babylonian administration, which earned him some enemies. But apart from a few pitfalls, he soared upwards until he became Prime Minister- the second most important man in all of Babylon.

Daniel is a significant contestant for the position of most successful man in the Bible.
The world would approve.

Did God approve?

Inspite of his situation as a captive in Babylon in his early years, Daniel adhered to strict Jewish laws regarding eating. Risking offending the king (ie death), Daniel refused to eat anything but plain vegies and water.

Daniel’s rebel friends refused to bow down to the king’s golden statue of himself.
Daniel refused to stop praying to God, knowing full well that the punishment was death.

In the face of serious consequences, Daniel showed God that he was faithful, or obedient, in the little things.

So God let Daniel in on some huge secrets.

Prophecies, visions of the end of time, events that are still in our future!
Daniel saw it all, about 2 600 years ago. He faithfully recorded what God allowed him to, and today we have Daniel to thank for a powerful collection of prophecies that teach us about God’s plans for us, and for the earth.

Daniel may not have understood his life’s purpose as clearly as John the Baptist.
Daniel certainly had opportunity to relax and enjoy his position.
But he was obedient to God- and God used him in even greater ways.

Naomi.

Naomi and her husband had left Israel during a drought, and moved to Moab. Her two sons grew up there, and married Moabite women.
Now, I don’t understand Jewish law very well. But I have a feeling that Naomi’s and her family’s decisions weren’t the best.

Things were going well for the family, however, until Naomi’s husband died. Then her sons- both of them.
She was left alone in a foreign country, and everyone in her family was dead!

She decided to pack up and go home to Judah.

Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth was devoted to Naomi and refused to leave her. Her famous commitment to the older woman-

“Wherever you go, I’ll go. Your people will be my people; your God will be my God.”

From the Bible’s records we know that Ruth went back to Judah with Naomi, got married, and had a son. Through her son was born King David- and Jesus, the Christ.
What a legacy we have through Ruth…

All thanks to Naomi’s love for Ruth, and her kindness to her. Thanks to the way that Naomi accepted Ruth into her family, and taught her the Jewish ways. Thanks to the way that Naomi taught Ruth about God- and taught her to love him.

Neither Naomi nor Ruth could have imagined the significant role they played in history. Looking at her life and the despair she experienced, I doubt Naomi felt at all successful.

But Naomi loved God, and she loved others. She taught others to love God and to obey him. Sure, Naomi made some bad decisions in her life. But God used her family to bear the royal line of Israel- and the royal line of heaven. God chose to accomplish his plan of salvation through her.

The truth is- we often don’t understand the significance of our lives as we are living them. It’s not until later- even generations later! that we can see the purpose God used us for.
God still IS, and his plan of salvation is still being worked out. He still needs faithful people to preach his word, to administer nations, to have children, to obey him in whatever part of life he puts us in.

It might not be obvious to you.
But is it a worthy goal?

Will you be faithful?