What is success? As a leader, perhaps you’ve set out trying to achieve it. Maybe success to you is a certain level you attain in your work. Or you might define it in dollars—how much you make, the size of your house, the vacation you can afford. Or maybe it’s in your relationships—the perfect spouse, the talented kids, the big circle of friends. Some people long for success so badly they’ll do almost anything to get it. Years ago, there was a television show called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Each week for an hour the viewer was treated to lavish images—private jets, fabulous mansions, exotic vacations. The message was simple: Success was defined by a big bank account and your face on magazine covers. All you need to be happy is to be rich and/or famous (preferably both).
The classic TV show “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” always ended with “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” It focused on a very culturally-centered meaning of success.
Scripture gives us a very different picture of success. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Spiritual success is following God with your whole heart. Why? Because God has a path for you—a good, healthy and faith-filled path—that gives you hope, and a future. The future God talks about isn’t sipping umbrella drinks on a beach with a fat 401K. It’s an eternal future and a hope that surpasses anything you can put in a safe deposit box.
If you’re going for success in life, the first question you have to answer is, “What does success mean to me?” When you define it in spiritual terms, and follow a God-driven path in life, you’ll find rich and rewarding years that lead you to an eternal home. This kind of success—God-centered success—is not only attainable, God actually promises this throughout Scripture to those who follow and obey Him. Success in this sense is not related to your financial resources or social calendar, but rather those relationships and activities that bring meaning and purpose to life. Success is leading spiritually in every facet of life. That’s real success. How do you get there?
Define the goal. Many leaders work with quarterly goals, sales goals, organizational goals, personnel goals—but they lack spiritual goals. If we really desire God-centered success, then our goals must also be God-centered. These goals begin with a lifestyle that is God-centered. Instead of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, consider that your surroundings and activities emphasize your time with God. Read the Bible daily, study and take notes, be a regular at your church, take an active role in ministry as a volunteer, read books and listen to music that enriches your spiritual growth. From these God-centered habits, you’ll begin to long for spiritual success, and goal-setting will become Christ-honoring.
Scripture to remember: Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
Questions to ask: What would I begin working to be successful in today if I knew I could not fail? Does this success goal reflect a God-centered life, or a me-centered life? How can I lead in a spiritual sense?
Focus on Jesus. If you are driven by the world’s definition of success, then this would say “focus on your goal”. But the difference in Christ-centered success is a life that is focused instead on Jesus. Goals to the Christ-follower are only a means to know Jesus more. Focusing on Jesus means putting Him above any and all other things, including our dreams, desires, work, relationships—everything. This kind of success is difficult because our very nature is to focus on ourselves to the exclusion of all else. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). This indicates that following Jesus will not be easy or without challenges and even suffering. But this must be viewed in the “bigger picture” of all of life, eternity and heaven—we are only on earth, after all, for a little while.
Focusing on Jesus is not a single act, but rather a way of living. Two elements can help your focus. One is to make praising God a daily practice, continually thinking about Who He is and what He has done. Praise is a growing reverence for God and a respect for the true wisdom He gives us. This leads us to a right understanding of God based on His Word. Second, practice gratitude in all areas of life, being thankful for everything, even the challenges that you face. Gratitude also helps to put suffering and challenges into perspective. A lifestyle focused on Jesus will grow your understanding of what success really means and Who it ultimately comes from.
Scripture to remember: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Questions to ask: How am I pursuing my relationship with Jesus today? What are elements of my life that may be hindering my growing in Jesus? Does my leadership reflect a life focused on Jesus?
The media and messaging of our culture is a “Times Square” shouting out its definition of success daily. It’s nearly impossible to hear God’s timeless message over all the noise.
Keep the faith. As Paul summarizes his years of ministry in his letter to 2 Timothy, he says, “I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Keep the faith means a continuous and growing belief and trust in God throughout all areas of life and work. We keep the faith in our lives when we examine ourselves regularly (introspection), we pray continually, we connect with other Christ-followers in community, and we show compassion and do good in our world. These are marks of Christian character found and taught throughout the New Testament. A faithful life is ultimately a successful life, because it is one through which Christ is working to bring about His purposes.
The word keep in this phrase means “to guard or watch over”. This is another reminder that our tendency is to drift away from faithful activities toward those things which are spiritually void. A faithful life must be guarded lest it become filled with meaningless successes. The tendency to drift in our mission and purpose and succumb to the ebb and flow of culture is a constant challenge. We live in a Times Square of media and messaging that presses us to accept other definitions of success that revolve around life’s fleeting enjoyments. A biblical leader stays in tune with the ultimate goal—to know and do the will of God. That is keeping the faith. That is real success.
Scripture to remember: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Questions to ask: How am I being transformed daily into the image of Christ? How do my relationships, service, activities and thoughts reflect a growing faith in Jesus? What does keep the faith mean to me as a leader in my home and workplace?
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an English-born Founding Father of the United States. An inventor and philosopher, he authored Common Sense, a pamphlet that was influential at the start of the American Revolution.