Sounds crazy right? I mean who doesn’t want to be successful? Day in and day out, we are bombarded with images of what it means to be successful. You go to school or further your training and education so that you can be successful. People start businesses hoping to be successful. Commercials and magazines tell us how to be successful. Books and seminars have made life coaches and authors rich as they tell us what program we must use in order to be successful in our relationships, careers, finances, children, etc.
But what if there was more? In fact, i know there is more to life than being successful. Not because I am but because of God’s word. John 10:10 says “…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly:. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work”. Finally, Hebrews 7:7 says “And with question the person who has the power to give blessings is greater than the one who is blessed”.
I submit that God does not want us to be just successful. Successful means that you are taking care of your family and enjoying life. You have enough money to pay bills and maybe something left over to treat yourself to dinner and a movie, or a vacation or that new outfit. Successful means you are making ends meet. Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with making ends meet. I don’t want to depend on anyone or thing except for Jesus. I want to know I can keep a roof over my head and food on the table. I want to enjoy a night out or buy something I have had my eye on. But if that is the extent of my vision, if this is the goal then the enemy has won in his deception regarding life. The enemy wants to keep us in the mindset of successful because at this level we are still selfish and thinking in terms of “I” and “me” and “mine”. No real change occurs at the success level. Nothing of substance is formed or created. No one outside my immediate territory prospers when I am successful.
But God wants so much more for and from me and you. What’s after successful? Significance!!! To be significant means you now are concerned with helping someone other than yourself and those in your immediate household. To be significant means you are changing and transforming lives. You are making a difference in your community. You are affecting generations! This is what God desires. Read Matthew 28:19. Jesus commanded the apostles to “go make disciples of all nations…” Does this sound like just taking care of your loved ones and that’s it.
As a Christian, we should be praying daily for God’s guidance on how to be significant in our world. How can we show the love of Christ to someone else. How can we encourage someone to call upon His name and trust Him because He is faithful and able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ask or think. We must push ourselves to think beyond our own situations and be kingdom minded.
Now I will admit this sounds lofty and may even frighten one. It may even seem like I am saying we should give up all we have in pursuit of helping others. On the contrary. When we earnestly ask God to use us, our finances, our businesses, our words, our heart to be a blessing to others, God will bless us and allow all our needs to be met. God is not going to allow you to beat His giving. But you must have a pure heart and seek Him in your endeavors. God will reward you when you avail yourself to His will and plans.
I have begun to see myself successful, though it feels weird saying that. But I admit, my bills are paid, even if I have to juggle things around and cut back on some things. But now I am looking to be significant in God’s kingdom. I want to make a difference so that someone now says if God did it for her, He will do it for me. I want someone to call upon His name because of my life. I want God’s glory to shine no only on me but through me to His sheep.
Successful is no longer enough for this Christian and it shouldn’t be for you either. Let’s be significant and change the world!
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