How Do You Spell Success?

How do YOU define success?
Many would define success with the attainment of one or more of the following:

• Power – having a number of people under your authority

• Prestige – being well-known, famous

• Position – achieving the executive level

• Popularity – being well-liked by the majority

• Possessions – having everything that money can buy

• Pleasure – being able to do that which brings pleasure to body and mind
  
  But, are these things TRUE  indicators of success?

The fact is that in many cases, the ones who possess one or more of the qualities listed above are often the most miserable.

The 19th-century Bible scholar G. S. Bowes pointed out the ultimate futility of ambition that isn’t accompanied by dedication to God. Citing four powerful world rulers of the past, he wrote:

·         "Alexander the Great was not satisfied, even when he had completely subdued the nations. He wept because there were no more worlds to conquer, and he died at an early age in a state of debauchery.

·         Hannibal, who filled three bushels with the gold rings taken from the knights he had slaughtered, committed suicide by swallowing poison. Few noted his passing, and he left this earth completely unmourned.

·         Julius Caesar, ‘staining his garments in the blood of one million of his foes,’ conquered 800 cities, only to be stabbed by his best friends at the scene of his greatest triumph.

·         Napoleon, the feared conqueror, after being the scourge of Europe, spent his last years, in banishment."

Lee Iacocca stated this human malady well in his book Straight Talk: "Here I am in the twilight years of my life, still wondering what it’s all about ... I can tell you this, fame and fortune is for the birds."

God revealed the definition of true success to His servant, Joshua: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may OBSERVE TO DO according to all that is written in it.  For THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

From this Scripture, we discover the TRUE definition of success:
True success is KNOWING the will of God – and DOING IT!

What is God’s will?  He has revealed through His Word that He wants each of us to submit our lives to Him.  He wants us to trust Him (Hebrews 11:6), repent of our sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess our faith in His Son (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  Having been born again into His family, He wants His children to CONTINUE to STUDY His revealed will AND to OBEY it (James 1:22).

Are YOU successful – in God’s eyes?  

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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