Having lived in New York for almost four years now, I think most people believe this is the case. But what if we measured success differently? What if we put more weight on the quality of our relationships, the way we change people's lives, how we share God with people, how we serve the least of these, resting in Him, and how we bring glory to God? Aren't those the things God asks of us? Isn't that all we need? Doesn't God promise us that He will take care of everything else? So why are we worrying about what we have and how others see us?
In the New Testament, James calls us to live out our faith through our actions. He shares with us what God expects from us. Below, James 2:5-17, lays it out for us pretty clearly.
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?James 2:5-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
God has been putting how we define our success on my heart lately. I do believe God has blessed me in a lot of conventional ways. I have a great job, a full social calendar, a wonderful fiance and a comfortable, beautiful home. However, I think that makes it that much harder for me to put into practice the things God truly wants from us. How are we to put into practice God's desires for us? In a society where we hate to be inconvenienced, how do we step outside ourselves and help others? How do we tell people about Christ? Obviously, its a lot easier to keep to ourselves and worry about making more to have more.
God calls us to change how we define success. I want God to show me what a successful life looks like in His eyes. I want to act out my faith in my daily choices. And as the Lord has always promised us, it won't always be easy, but it will be good. So Lord, I look forward to this beautiful, hard journey to finding Your success. Amen.
How has God been challenging you lately?
