To Succeed Means What?

Author and Pastor Francis Chan had a great quote in his book, "Crazy Love" that I think is worth talking about. 

It was a quote from Tim Kizziar which states, "Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

How true!  Another great quote that I heard from the late Bill Pearce on his Radio show, "Nightsounds" which was not original with Bill, but he used it quite often was: "What happens when you climb the ladder of success, only to discover when you are at the top, that the ladder was on the wrong wall."

Bernie Madoff's family is talking about their ordeal this Sunday on 60 minutes.  Some cuts from that interview have already played on the evening news showing Madoff's wife telling how they planned their suicides. She says they did take pills, but woke up in the morning, so it didn't work. Here is a guy who lived a life of fame, power, and wealth, but ends up living out his life as a convicted criminal. He is an example of what so many people will experience when they enter eternity. How they lived, what they believed, who they served, will all be questions that will come out as measurements of reward or punishment. Living your life just to get what you can out of life is the Bernie Madoff's rule for living. Whatever you can, whenever you can, and who ever you can, take advantage of them as often as you can for your benefit only. Now I do feel sorry for Bernie Madoff, because here is a guy who obviously had some gifts, but miss used them because his understanding of life was manipulated by his greed.  Most of us, without some kind of principles and values against greed, would probably do the very thing Bernie did, why?  Because it's in the DNA of every human to sin. We all have the capacity to do evil, either in great measure, or just an occasional weekend romp.

It is important for people of all ages to stop and evaluate what it means to have success or to succeed. Many people set goals in their lives as a compass to move toward, and that is not a bad idea.  The problem with achievement is once you are there, you might find the same empty feeling you had before the goal was met. Human beings were designed to experience success when they come into a relationship with the living God. Any success outside of this perimeter will never bring you into a fullness of understanding what matters in life no matter how much money, fame, or fortune you acquire. 

At some point along the journey, the way you lived your life will matter to you.  It will matter when you enter eternity, and that is what counts because it's forever.  Invest well today, for a great eternal dividend. 

Ecclesiastes 7:8 8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. The Great White Throne Judgment Revelation 20  11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is rthe book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, taccording to what they had done.  13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  15And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Stop today, and think about eternity, it depends on what you believe, and what you do. Keeping it honest and truthful....K