Success can be deceptive.
The euphoria of success can unintentionally lead us to believe we need less help and make it easier to loosen our standards and let down our guard.
Success makes it easy to forget where we came from and what got us where we are.
Success warrants more vigilance not less. The greater the success, the more opportunities for temptation, self-exaltation, power, influence, and cutting corners. Success in any form requires us to be on high alert – to hold fast, keep our guard up, and dive deeper into our relationship with God and the people that matter.
Becoming Like Children
Success requires more dependence upon God and upon people, not less.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4 ESV)
Notice Jesus didn’t say “become childish.” We are to leave childish ways behind but keep a child-like heart. Children trust easily, know they need help and laugh often. Growing in our dependence upon God is a life-long endeavor.
Where is your dependence level upon God? Is it deepening and growing, stagnant and stuck, or decreasing and diminishing? Do you have people you can depend on and share your stuff with? Are you afraid to ask for help?
Maturity doesn’t mean we need God or people less. It means we need them more!
Going Deeper
Here are a few things you can do to deepen your dependence upon the Lord:
Repent for living as if you don’t need God.
Spend some time thinking about what would you do if you were in a desperate situation and had nowhere to turn but God? How would you act? What would your relationship with Him look like? How would your daily habits change?
Share with a friend and ask them to pray with and for you (that takes humility)
Spend some time fasting (abstaining from one thing to increase your dependence upon God)
Ask God to redefine success for your heart and search the Scriptures for answers.
Success Is…
Success means different things to different people in different seasons. But regardless of how you define success, it is imperative that you define it!
While some definitions may be more important than others, success doesn’t have just one definition. Let me give you some examples in different areas of my life. For me success is:
- God – knowing God and doing His will
- Myself – be a whole and healthy person in the four core areas of life – spiritual, relational, emotional, physical (work, health, finances)
- My wife – to have a vibrant relationship when my kids are out of the house (in order to do this, we have to cultivate a vibrant relationship while they are at home)
- My children – they want to come home when they no longer have to (among other things)
- Relationships – Those who know me best love me and respect me the most (if those who know me least respect me the most I have done something wrong)
- Pastor – to build big people who become mature disciples that multiply other mature disciples.
- Business – helping leaders thrive and be whole (integrity) for themselves, their people, their team/organization, and for the glory of God.
- Finances – to become financially free so I can do the most good for the most number of people.
- Physical health – to live a vibrant and healthy life up until the moment I die.
Once you define success (akin to goals in some ways), focus on the inputs – the small daily habits that will get you there.
Redefining Success
When is the last time you worked through your definitions of success in the major areas of your life? If it’s been a while, why not take some time to do it right now? It only takes a few minutes and I promise you it will be well worth it!
*Photo by Mahdi Dastmard on Unsplash
