What is success defined? How would you define it for yourself? What is success in the Bible? And, how does success affect your identity and how you see yourself?
The kind of success I am talking about today has to do with character as opposed to the typical definition of success
Success Defined By The World
According to dictionary.com, success is defined as:
1. The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one’s goals.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
Synonyms: triumph, accomplishment, achievement
3. a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors:
The play was an instant success.
4. a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.:
This is not the kind of success I am talking about. We all have these kinds of successes and failures throughout our lives. However, they are transient. If we base who we are, our identity on how well we succeed or fail, then our confidence and self-image are going to suffer every time we make a mistake, lose money, lose a job, or don’t perform well in some way.
Biblical Definition of Success
The Biblical definition of success has more to do with our character, growing in the fruit of the spirit and, through that, growing in our relationship with God.
(You can check out my Series on the Fruit of the Spirit here).
Biblical success that pleases and glorifies God is being known by God and knowing and serving Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
It is about learning who we are in Him, our identity in Christ, and learning to use our gifts, skills, and talents to serve and glorify Him.
The only things that truly matter are those that last eternally. Money, fame, social status aren’t bad in and of themselves but they will not last eternally. It’s all about our motives and where our heart lies that really matter. It is the things of the heart that reveal our true character and, hence, whether we are truly successful from God’s perspective.
So, instead of basing your self-worth on your talent, intelligence, social status, accomplishments, finances and the like, success is truly about your character as seen in 2 Peter 1: 3-10.
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1: 3-10
For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love. For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
God’s Character Goals For Us
As a Christian we need to apply God’s character goals to our lives, such as the fruit of the spirit. Our true success is about who we are are- our identity in Christ and our growth in character. It is accepting God’s goal for our lives and becoming what and who He has called us to be.
“ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:7-8 NIV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5: 22-24 MEV
Our true success is about who we are are- our identity in Christ and our growth in character. It is accepting God’s goal for our lives and becoming what and who He has called us to be.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1: 7-8
Conclusion
In conclusion, success defined by the world is all about things, money, power, social influence and the like. However, what is success in the Bible?
It’s about your character, who you are as opposed to what you have, your successes and your failures. It’s about becoming who God created you to be on the inside and as you do so, you become more and more like Jesus and will grow into your true eternal purpose. One that will glorify God.
After all, only those things that last eternally and are rooted in Jesus, will last forever. Everything else will pass away.
You may want to check out my next post in this series:
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