How does God define ‘Success’?
July 13
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.
United States Senator Mark Hatfield tells the story of touring Calcutta, India with Mother Teresa. On their tour, she took him to visit the so-called “House of the Dying,” where terminally sick children were cared for in their final days.
As he watched Mother Teresa minister to these children who were nearing death, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of suffering she and her co-workers saw on a daily basis. He asked her, “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?”
Mother Teresa replied, “Senator, I am not called to be successful. I’m called to be faithful.”
In the economy of God, it isn’t success God expects us to give Him. That’s because any earthly success we can and do experience actually comes from God. But what God does expect from us is our faithfulness – our obedience to His calling whatever the cost may be.
Don’t focus on worldly success. Focus on faithfulness. Spend yourself in the worthy cause of being obedient to the Lord. And even when you fail, you’ll be able to rest in the certainty that God calls you no further than being faithful. Obey God’s calling and leave the results up to Him!
Prayer Challenge
Pray and ask God to help you live a life of faithfulness whether it leads you to worldly success or hardship.
Questions for Thought
In our success-focused society, how can we stay true to God’s calling even when circumstances seem impossible?
What’s one area today that you can commit to being obedient to the Lord even if it takes you down a more difficult path?
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