Redefining Success - Stephen

 “Complete self-confidence is not merely a sin: complete self- confidence is a weakness.”

G.K. Chesterton

 
How does that quote sit with you? If you’re like me the quote itself is initially pretty jarring. Let me give you some context: the early 20^th century theologian and author G.K. Chesterton was speaking with a publisher of his who had made much money, held much notoriety, and thought much of his own ability to reach for the stars, take hold of the moon, and achieve his dreams (my words, not his). The quote above was Chesterton’s reply to this man’s way of thinking. Not to belabor the story but the conversation ended with this publisher concluding to Chesterton: “If a man is not to believe in himself, in what is he to believe?” 
 
Going back to our response to the beginning quote, why did you and I find it unsettling? (I apologize if my assumption here is wrong and you just accepted some guy you’ve never heard of telling you outright you shouldn’t be confident in yourself. If this is you please keep reading anyways.) I think we found it disturbing because our idea of success is strictly tied to one’s self-confidence. Think about who you believe to be the most successful people in the world—a president who makes confident decisions regarding national defense on a regular basis, a CEO who makes confident financial decisions regarding his company, or a parent who must make confident decisions regarding the welfare of their family each and every day. Do you see the common denominator of confidence undergirding our thoughts of those we deem most successful?
 
Success is an interesting topic because our world and our culture are very much interested in it. On the other hand, the Word of God written by the Creator and Sustainer of our lives, the One who has eternal plans for us in this life and the life to come surprisingly only uses this word a sum total of once (and that’s even rounding to the nearest whole number). Which leads us to this question—did God mention it only once because success wasn’t important to Him or because He trusted us as a culture to rightly define it ourselves?
 
Let’s look at that one verse for the answer—

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”  Joshua 1:8

After reading this verse it would seem God was telling Joshua that success would be found by meditating on His Word. In our world and culture that has a seemingly unquenchable thirst and desire for all things promising and promoting success, God tells one of His leaders in Joshua to meditate on other things, other words, and other traits besides success as we typically define it (for once again the word is only used once).
 
Surely, I’m wrong and surely God wants us to be successful according to our world and culture’s standards, right? For as I’m prone to believe a more successful Christian provides a greater spotlight for God to be glorified, right? What God will tell those who He deems successful as they enter eternity gives us our answer—

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

 
Had our culture written this verse it would most certainly read “good and successful servant”, but this verse redefines the word altogether and centers it around something entirely different. Success in the eyes of God does not seem to be intrinsically wrapped up in money, notoriety, or one’s confidence to achieve one’s dreams but in mere faithfulness to Him. I say mere not because it is something easy and cheap but because success seems to be found in something simple to define and measure and, with God’s help, achievable by everyone no matter their lot in life. 
 
With this redefined standard of success think of who we can now claim as truly successful: missionaries who have left dear family and friends to tell others of the Gospel, business owners who have lined the pockets of the homeless more than their own to show the love of Christ, and people in every tribe, tongue, and nation who have “counted the cost” and have chosen to be faithful to God’s calling for salvation and life-long servanthood. I might also add my grandmother who just passed away last week with not much to claim as her own, yet the legacy left for her family & friends was one of consistent love and joy for others and her Lord. These are those God labels successful and now we can too—all because they have chosen to be faithful. 
 
So, while you’re eating your leftover black-eyed peas and greens from this New Year’s Day consider the question the publisher left Chesterton with that day regarding what one is to believe in if not in one’s self. The answer is simply this—believe that God can define success better than we ever could or ever will. If we do that, we may just find out He was right the day we step into eternity. 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE AND WELCOME 2021.