We tend to live and die in our successes and failures! Perhaps I should rather say our "perceived successes and failures!" When you are working hard on a project, a ministry, or a person and the work seems to falter and fail - well - that is tough on us!
Here are some things I think I can say about measuring success!
1. A single failure does not mean that all has failed! That, my friends, is a liberating truth! A failed project or idea is something that I usually give way too much power over my emotions! Jesus himself reminded his disciples that HE had chosen them, and one of them was a devil! Avoid the tendency to see a single disappointment or failed activity as the failure of everything!
2. A single success does not mean that everything has succeeded! We all like it when things go well! And we should! But a single success in a person, a project, a ministry, or an idea does not mean that we have arrived and we are now on the top of our game! We should celebrate the victories, mindful that we still have work to do!
3. Success usually cannot be measured in a single event - but over a series of events! We will have a more realistic view of how things are by looking at a bigger picture surrounding a project, a ministry, an idea, or a group of people! Jesus discipled the 12! There were times that they "got it" and times that they did not! But by the time we get to the early church, there they are - successful leaders paying the price! Yet, these were the same guys who asked the Lord to teach them to pray! He did! Then in perhaps one of His greatest hours of crisis in the Garden of Gethsemane, we find Jesus asking His disciples to pray! What did they do? They slept! They were not successes at that moment - but they were not total failures either. They shined on the day of Pentecost!
4. Success will sometimes only be known in eternity! Be careful with this one! This is not intended to be used as a "cop out!" But I believe it is true that there will be people we will one day encounter in eternity who will have been used mightily in the Kingdom for whom we were instrumental in their success. They will be among those that we touched in some way but did not know it! God's Word does not return to Him void - but accomplishes it's work! If we are faithful to the Lord, we may or may not know about all our successes or failures - but we can be assured that His work will succeed and as long as we are participating obediently, we will be succeeding in His eyes!
5. Obvious success do not belong solely to us! This point is not so much about measuring success as giving do diligence to the One who deserves the glory! We do celebrate our successes. But we need to remember that ultimately belong to God who strengthens us for every good work! Recognizing this truth will prevent us from obsessing about OUR successes and OUR failures!
Just a word! Hope it was helpful!
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