Redefining Success: A Divine Perspective

In a world obsessed with achievement, wealth, and status, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Our culture bombards us with images of "successful" people – those with impressive careers, luxurious lifestyles, and widespread acclaim. But what if our definition of success is fundamentally flawed? What if true success looks radically different through God's eyes?

Let's take a moment to examine success from a biblical standpoint. Interestingly, the word "success" only appears once in the entire Bible, in Joshua 1:8:

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

This verse reveals a crucial distinction – success is different from prosperity. While the two concepts are often conflated in our minds, God sees them as separate. True success, according to Scripture, is rooted in understanding and prudence. It's not about accumulating wealth or achieving fame; it's about grasping and applying God's wisdom in our daily lives.

Consider the life of Jesus Christ. By any worldly measure of success, His earthly ministry would be deemed a failure. After three and a half years of intense personal evangelism, He had only twelve disciples – and one of those betrayed Him. When faced with adversity, most of His followers abandoned Him. He owned no property, had no formal education, and was ultimately rejected and crucified by the very people He came to save.

Yet we know that Jesus' life and sacrifice were the ultimate success in God's plan of redemption. This stark contrast highlights how differently God views success compared to our human standards.

The Bible is filled with examples that challenge our notions of success:

1. Enoch: We know almost nothing about his life circumstances, but Scripture tells us "he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). That was enough to make him successful in God's eyes.

2. Noah: He spent years building an ark, facing ridicule and skepticism from his community. Yet his obedience to God's seemingly absurd command saved humanity.

3. Moses: Despite his initial reluctance and lack of eloquence, God used him to lead the Israelites out of slavery.

4. King Saul: The Bible notes that when he was "little in his own eyes," he did great things for God. But when he became prideful, he faltered.

These stories remind us that success in God's kingdom often looks like failure to the world. It's not about our accomplishments, wealth, or status – it's about our faithfulness, obedience, and willingness to be used by God.

The Apostle Paul, one of the most educated and accomplished religious leaders of his time, wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Paul deliberately set aside his impressive credentials and rhetorical skills, recognizing that true success comes from relying on God's power rather than human wisdom.

So how can we align our definition of success with God's perspective? Here are a few key principles:

1. Seek God's will above all else: Like Enoch, our primary goal should be to please God, not to impress others or accumulate worldly accolades.

2. Embrace humility: Remember King Saul's story – success often comes when we're "little in our own eyes" and dependent on God.

3. Be obedient, even when it doesn't make sense: Noah's faithfulness in building the ark seemed foolish to others but was exactly what God required.

4. Focus on spiritual growth, not just external achievements: As James 1:22-25 reminds us, we must be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." True success comes from applying God's wisdom to our lives, not just accumulating knowledge.

5. Recognize your need for spiritual authority: Even as we grow in faith, we need mentors and leaders to speak into our lives and keep us accountable.

6. Define success by faithfulness, not results: We may not always see the fruits of our labor, but God values our consistent obedience.

7. Remember that God's ways often seem foolish to the world: As 1 Corinthians 1:27 states, "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."

Embracing this counter-cultural view of success isn't easy. It requires a radical shift in our thinking and priorities. We must constantly resist the temptation to measure our worth by worldly standards and instead fix our eyes on eternal values.

As we journey through life, let's challenge ourselves to redefine success according to God's standards. This might mean turning down a lucrative job offer to pursue a calling in ministry. It could involve sacrificing personal comfort to serve others. Or it may simply mean faithfully living out our faith in the mundane routines of daily life, even when no one else notices.

Remember, in God's economy, success isn't about what we achieve, but about who we become. It's about allowing God to shape our character, align our will with His, and use us as instruments of His love and grace in the world.

So, the next time you're tempted to measure your success by your bank account, job title, or social media following, pause and reflect. Ask yourself: Am I seeking to please God above all else? Am I growing in my understanding and application of His Word? Am I allowing Him to work through me, even in my weaknesses?

True success – God's success – awaits those who dare to embrace this divine perspective. It may not always look impressive to the world, but it carries the weight of eternity. And in the end, isn't that the only success that truly matters?

Related Reading
Isaiah 53:2-3
Joshua 1:8
John 1:11
Matthew 8:20
Proverbs 4:7
1 Corinthians 1:20-21
Jeremiah 10:23
1 Corinthians 1:26
Hebrews 11:5
2 Chronicles 26:5
2 Chronicles 26:16
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
James 1:22-25