Where Success Lies
Who or what comes to mind when you hear the word “success”? Why?
Here on this earth, we live in a fallen world where people often equate success to temporary, unpromised things. Many of these things include money, social involvements, job titles, possessions, number of friendships, or other qualifications. The problem is that all of these seemingly great things are not guaranteed to last and eventually disappear whether that be now, while we are alive, or when we die. Yet, we go after these things so hard and often when accomplished, we still find we are missing something. We can never be satisfied or have enough. The quote, “Money can’t buy happiness” in reality, is found to be true. Some of the wealthiest and seemingly most highly successful people in the world still feel they lack something or if they could just have one more thing, they would be happy. But when they get this “one more thing,” they still eventually feel they never have enough. Why is this? What are they lacking?
Now, let me be clear for a moment. I’m not here saying it’s ever a bad thing to want to be successful financially, educationally, socially, etc., but it can be a very dangerous thing when it becomes our ultimate goal and sole purpose in our life. We were not created for the purpose of making the most money or pleasing every person we meet, or being involved in every social function we are invited to be in. We were created for an ultimate relationship that will forever satisfy and we are to share this relationship with the world.
As Colossians 1:16 says, “for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
We see here in this passage of Scripture, that everything on this earth is created by God to glorify Him and His kingdom. Without fulfilling this purpose, we will never find the true satisfaction we are looking for. We have to stop running after something we weren’t created for in hopes of satisfaction. Everything of this world is temporary, but our relationship with God through Jesus Christ is eternal. (1 John 5:11- “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”) So why is God’s plan that He created for us often not our first focus?
The truth is that here on this earth, our human nature seeks the temporary pleasures of this world that seem to provide immediate happiness, but in reality, end up fading away and don’t provide satisfaction for long. The devil is constantly working to help us find the quick and easy route, the shortcuts, and the things that make life seemingly easier and more comfortable. But these shortcuts we fall captive to believing, do not develop that deep and intimate relationship with God that we were created for. God uses our journeys to grow and mold us into the person He made us to be. We must choose to commit to Him and trust the process and not resist and fight it. When we do this, we will find our joy in the journey of developing an intimate and permanent relationship with our Creator and Savior. We rest in knowing God’s plans always succeed and come to fruition, regardless of internal or external forces coming at us. It doesn’t matter what we think, or what others do, because God’s plans always succeed (Proverbs 19:21- Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”). We are only called to take it one step of faith at a time. We don’t have to have it all figured out because God already does (Matthew 6:25-34).
We know through the Word of God, that Jesus is the only source of ultimate happiness in this world. No other person or thing can fulfill. Our hope is in Christ alone. As stated in Colossians 3:1-4 we, as Christians “have been raised with Christ” and are to “set ‘our’ hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” We are also called to “set ‘our’ minds on things above, not on earthly things.” “For ‘we’ died, and ‘our’ life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is ‘our’ life, appears, then ‘we’ also will appear with him in glory.” Through these verses, We can be filled with hope that none of our work here on earth is in vain. No person is too lost to be saved and our work done for the kingdom of God can never be erased. Our eternal reward and real success awaits us in heaven, where we will be made perfect through the blood of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from this.
So while we are here on this earth, we know we will face trials, but we can also choose to trust that God’s plans are far better than we could ever imagine. We can find rest in His promises that He will not fail us and hold on to the hope we have in heaven. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Let’s choose today to step in faith and trust God’s plans, knowing that He will provide us exactly what we need and that our true success can be found only in Him.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34