How do you define success?

Here are some various answers to that question: *

Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. “I get up when I fall down,” said Harvey. -- Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, p. 16

In his book Be Free, Warren W. Wiersbe mentioned the fact that young ministers often visited the great British preacher G. Campbell Morgan to ask him the secret of his success. When someone inquired of him what he told these aspiring preachers, Morgan replied, “I always say to them the same thing -- work; hard work; and again, work!” – Our Daily Bread

“To succeed in life you need not only initiative, but also finishiative.” -- Zaida Jones Blaine in Chicago Tribune

“The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.” -- John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Dan Crawford (1870-1926) spent most of his adult life serving as a missionary in Africa. When it was time to return home to Britain, Crawford described to an old Bantu the kind of world he was about to return to. He told him about ships that ran under the water, on the water, and even those that flew above the water. He described English houses with all of their conveniences, such as running water and electric lights. Then Crawford waited for the old African to register his amazement. “Is that all, Mr. Crawford?” the aged man asked. “Yes, I think it is,” Crawford replied. Very slowly and very gravely, the old Bantu said, “Well, Mr. Crawford, you know, that to be better off is not to be better.” – W. Wiersbe, The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 188.

What is success? In my book, one ingredient of success is meaningful time with my children. As a friend of mine observed, “I have yet to hear of anyone who, on his deathbed, wished he'd spent more time at the office.” -- Joseph Stowell, Moody Monthly

A popular singer who recently went from rags to riches was quoted as saying, “I still don't understand it. If you don't have any time for yourself, any time to hunt or fish, that's success.” -- Bits & Pieces, November, 1989, p. 18

Here is the key and the definition of true success: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8 NIV).

True success is to know the will of God and to do it.

It is the will of God that you be saved.  He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  Sin condemns, but God gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

It is the will of God that you serve Him.  “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

True success is to know the will of God and to do it. Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* These various answers come from http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/success.htm

David A. Sargent, Minister

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

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org