Understanding True Success

1. Defining Success

What is true success? What is it that a person should set their lives to pursue and seek after? The answers to these questions determine the really valuable of life. The Pyramids, the tombs of the Pharaoh’s, provide ample testimony to the truth declared by the Apostle Paul in 1Timothy 6:7; “…we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” They were buried with their worldly goods and possessions for the trip to the ‘after-life’ to make it comfortable and well provided for. However, when the tombs were eventually opened everything put in the tombs was still there long after the Pharaoh’s had passed into their ‘after-life’. The Psalmist declared, speaking of both the rich and poor, that “…wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth for others.” (Ps.49:10) He goes on to say, exposing the thinking of people who would emulate people like the Pharaoh’s; “Their inner thought is that their houses will continue forever, And their dwelling places to all generations;…Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory (the word ‘glory’ refers here to the persons weightiness, hence worth, in possessions) shall not descend after him.” (vs. 11 & 16-17).

The wealth we accumulate and the things we possess are transient and do not constitute the really valuable of this life and therefore cannot be the measure of success. The Psalmist admits that people will praise you for your successes. However, he also warns against thinking your successes are purely your own accomplishment. In becoming successful it should be recognized that it is God who endows people with gifts and abilities to become successful. The Psalmist declares; “Though while he (the rich and successful person) lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself)…Man who is in honor, yet does not understand (how God’s world works), Is like the beasts that perish.” Ps.49:18 & 20.

I remember my father, who was involved in the entertainment industry for most of his working life dealing with famous people, saying to me that the worst mistake an artist in the entertainment industry can make is to believe their own publicity. It is the beginning of their fall from grace. In speaking to the boastful, those who revel and glory in their own success, and the wicked, who think they have been successful in obtaining greatness purely by self effort, the Scripture declares; “…exaltation comes neither from east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” Ps.75:6-7. No one has made what they have from nothing; they have used what has been provided for them. No one has obtained influence and power purely through their own brilliance and might; they have been able to take advantage of opportunities and circumstances that existed. Everyone owes their existence to forces outside themselves; no-one has come into existence through an act of their own will.

As a result the gifts and abilities each person has are a result of a divine input; they are not a result of a persons own ingenuity. It is the use and development of gifts and abilities that are the province of a persons’ own ingenuity. Not only is existence a divine gift, so is also the world in which a person lives and works. Consequently, whatever success a person may have in life has been achieved by using what has been provided, whether in material possessions or status and power.

Therefore, success cannot be measured by acquisitions, whether by wealth or power over the lives of others. Jesus noted that; “…one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Lk12:15. The apostle Paul gave directions on how those who had wealth in this life were to handle their attitude to that wealth. He said; “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 1Tim6:17. The exhortation is to trust in the God who gave the riches not in the riches themselves. When this attitude is taken a person is freed to enjoy the things they have. Paul goes on to show that the emphasis is on using wealth to help others; “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1Tim6:18-19.   Jesus declared, recorded in Matthew 16:26, “…what is a man (or woman) profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Wealth, possessions and success can all be empty and futile as a core of existence and reason for living. The verse preceding the one quoted states; “…whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” This highlights that the primary problem is the concept of living for self. Relationships based on valuing and seeking the best for the others are what lead to the really valuable in this life, but also with promise for the life to come. The real issue for God is not whether we do or do not have riches, nor is it our successes or failures. These are just the circumstances in which we live. The real issue is how we respond to circumstances and consequently live out this life. When we do this we are truly successful and achieve the really valuable that cannot be lost.

The fruit of the Spirit, which belongs to the soul or inner-person, which is the aspect of life we don’t want to lose, is described in Galatians as “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Gal.5:22-23. The values and character traits listed can only be outworked in relationships with other people, none of the aspects involve the riches and successes we may or may not achieve. In fact rich and poor, successful and unsuccessful (by this world’s way of valuing people), can achieve the fruit of the Spirit, i.e. all can be successful from God’s perspective. Any person through fulfilling relationships can achieve the really valuable and without this all else is worthless in the final reckoning of a life.