What is Success #1 – Personal

3½ minute Video version: https://fb.watch/gHmQNH5AF8/

I recall as a young leader setting high expectations on myself for success.

I wanted to succeed, but the results I sought to achieve were often unrealistic and even fanciful. I wanted to be successful, but I was driven by the outward accomplishments of others and restricted by my own internal critic.

I didn’t know what success actually looked like.

Soon I crafted a definition of success that guided my thought process. It took some pressure off myself. I gave myself more grace and granted myself the permission to fail.

Two verses were key: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

My definition: Success is doing your best in whatever you do, say, or think as unto the Lord with the time, resources, and abilities you’ve got.

Let’s say, for example, you had three hours to complete a project on your job. Did you waste time? No. Were you irresponsible? No. Did you do your best with the time and resources and abilities you had at hand? Yes. Did you do it all for God? Yes. Was God pleased? Yes! (Even if your boss wishes you could have produced more, you did it right.)

But let’s say you had 10 hours to complete the same project. Your answers to the same questions could be the same resounding “yes”.

Most likely the end result would be better than the three-hour version. You gave it more thought. You accessed more resources. It was more comprehensive and more creative. It benefitted more people. God too was pleased.

Critics we will always have. And we always have room for improvement.

What worked well? What could have gone better? What could be done differently next time? What needs to be strengthened or changed?

Also important: In spite of all our inadequacies and shortcomings, did we do our best with the time and abilities we had for the pleasure and glory of God? Did we put a smile on God’s face?

In our homes, our jobs, our church, our lives – whatever our hand finds to do, we do it with all our might. We do it all for the glory of God – to make him look good, to put a smile on his face. That is success.

~ Pastor Dave