How Do You Define Success?

Have you ever noticed how elusive success can be? I can receive a check in the mail for a devotional and feel elated one minute, then in the next moment, be on pins and needles about the status of another article.

Take a look at some guys in the Biblical narrative:

• Elisha’s family might have been more than peeved at him, when he destroyed his plow.
• Saul switched sides in the middle of the battle against Christians.
• Samson became a prisoner of war.

All three of these men might be seen as failures, depending on the way you view their circumstances.

• Elisha broke down his tools for success.
• Saul broke the rules of engagement.
• Samson’s spirit broke when he became a slave.

But, God. (Two words that make all the difference in a life.)

But, God changed the outcome of their stories and called them victorious.

Read more about these heroes of the faith:

• Elisha. 1 Kings 19:19-21
• Paul. Acts 8:3; 25:1-29
• Samson. Judges 16:23-30
• Also note: Hebrews 11

What does success mean to you?

• To climb the corporate ladder? (Is there ever a top rung?)
• Publish six books? Or, ten? (When will it be enough?)
• Submit hundreds of articles? (What is the magic number?)

If success means one thing in your job, and something different in another work environment, could it also be upside down in God’s economy? What if the Lord has a different perspective on success and failure?

Exercise:

1. Look up the definition of success in the dictionary.

2. What does success mean to you?

3. Look up the following verses and jot down a summary of each.

• Numbers 8:11
• Ecclesiastes 5:19
• Jeremiah 48:10a
• John 6:27-29
• John 9:4
• 1 Corinthians 3:12-13
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Hebrews 6:10
• 1 Samuel 15:22
• Joshua 1:7
• 2 Kings 18:7
• 2 Chronicles 20:20
• 1 Chronicles 4:10
• Isaiah 54
• Isaiah 26:15
• 2 Corinthians 9:8-15
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

4. What do you think success means to God?

5. If you could do one thing today to take the next step in your writing, what would it be?

6. What do you need to overcome, in order for that to happen?

7. Will you?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net