Here are a few reasons: It’s very helpful to have a goal you’re striving for. Without it, you lose motivation and work seems meaningless; If you haven’t defined success, you can’t really evaluate your efforts If you haven’t defined it yourself, then it’s likely that someone or something else has defined it for you; … The list could go on for a long time. It’s the last reason, however, that I think is especially pertinent if you intend to be a follower of Jesus.

I believe that God wants you to be successful. There is more than enough evidence in the Bible to substantiate this claim. The challenging part is not just “baptizing” a common understanding of success and then looking to your faith to help you accomplish it. Did I say challenging? What I meant to say is that it can be agonizingly difficult and often confusing. Ideas about success and failure are deeply ingrained in people’s souls. Changing those deep values doesn’t happen very often.To complicate matters, ideas about what success entitles you to can be deeply ingrained as well.

This is the time of year when we focus on the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth. From the standpoint of his culture, as well as ours, the story that ends on Good Friday is the most colossal of failures; a well-intentioned but thorough waste. From the standpoint of crucifixion alone, following the way of Jesus is a non-starter—a foolish mistake. The resurrection turns this “failure” on its head. Nevertheless, I wander if part of the reason people reject the resurrection, or not take it seriously, is that we’re still holding out for the world’s take on success to work out for them.

This week, we’re continuing our series on Idols. Success and the supposed entitlement that come with it competes relentlessly for first place in your heart. In itself, it’s not a bad thing. In fact, as I read my Bible, it seems that success is God’s will for your life and mine. In itself, it’s just not the ultimate thing. Getting ready for Sunday, check out the story of Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5. Massively successful and respected, he discovered something even greater—so great that not even he could achieve it.

Yours for the Journey,

Pastor Tom 

Luke 12:32