Imagination

What is success? People by nature are a discontented flock, the more they have, the more they crave. Amassing more money, real estate properties, flashy cars, status and power, seem to be their yardstick in success in life. "Successful" people enjoy the "good life" - being financially secure, emotionally secure, being surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Their example is emulated and their accomplishments are noticed. Most people's definitions of success only deal with the "here and now" of this life. Even in many churches today the definition of success is in terms of numbers, size, dollars and prestige.

One day, it came to me that after all these years I am still living in a small place with my family and we seldom go out on a vacation and alike… I tend to feel frustrated. Then I start asking myself “why should I feel frustrated?”. Is it because I don’t feel successful of what we only have and with our below average life style? Should I feel frustrated because we’re not as good as any other families we know? What is the meaning of SUCCESS or being successful IN LIFE anyway? Is it having a lot of money, living in a big house, driving a fancy car, fame, or being able to travel all the time? Is it about being the BEST in something? Is it about being able to secure the future of my children financially? If those were the yardstick for measuring success, how come that there are people who possesses these things but still doesn’t feel happy?

But success is measured and defined differently by God. God's measure of success involves our obedience and faithfulness to Him, regardless of opposition and personal cost. His measure of success is whether or not we are being loyal to Him in our personal relationship with Him and in our life, and whether we are accomplishing His goals & purposes for our life.

Jesus was failure, if you measure his life here on earth by people's measure of success. He had little in material possessions, and did not even own a home. He was rejected by most people, and was even hated by some. The religious leaders of the time despised him. Even his friends and those closest to him deserted him. He was accused and found guilty of things he did not do. He was beaten, spit on, cursed, mocked, and he suffered terribly and died the most horrible kind of death known to man at that time, death on the cross. Measure him by the way most of us measure success, and he was a failure. But in God's eyes, the redemption and salvation of all of mankind was accomplished through His son Jesus. By God's grace and great love for you and I, He sent Jesus to pay for our sins, and now the gift of a restored personal relationship with God and eternal life can be ours - all because of Jesus Christ.

Do you think you're really successful in life? What if we remove all the material things that you own... what else do you have so you can say that you are successful?

It's for you to decide whether to work hard to achieve YOUR goals or to live a life for God's purpose.