Defining Success

If you look up “success” in the Bible, you will not find a neat and clean definition.  The average concordance will not give you the answer you are looking for.  Instead, you have to dig a little deeper to find a working definition of Biblical success.  Once you see it, I think you will agree that it is clear.

I believe the clearest illustration we can use to define Biblical success is found in a familiar story told by Jesus.  This story is found in Matthew 25:14-30.  It is called the Parable of the Talents and you have probably heard it told and mentioned in sermons many times over.  What you might not have realized is how directly it applies to your business.  

Please take a moment and go read it right now.  It is worth the refresher.

Core Message

The idea is that Jesus (the Master) has given us (His servants) a number of skills, resources, etc (talents) and expects us to invest them while He is gone.  When He returns, He will hold us accountable for our results.  He will reward us if we have wisely invested these resources and achieved solid returns.  If we have not, the results are not good.

If you think about it, what kind of returns do you think Jesus expects?  In this parable, He is not clear.  If we look elsewhere, I think we can figure it out.  

First of all, God already owns everything on the earth.  All of the land, buildings, money, etc. is already His. This being the case, I do not think He is asking for us to gain any of that as our returns.  Worldly success is after these things.  Biblical success is something different altogether.

Looking elsewhere, we see that Jesus repeatedly commands us to reach out to others.  He tells us that we are to be salt and light .  We are compared to a city on a hill.  This line of thinking culminates in His Great Commission to us when He tells us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  In fact, if you think about it, the ONLY things God does not yet possess are the souls of those who have not yet come to Him.

It is clear to me that these souls are the returns we are to seek as we invest our skills, resources, etc. in this life.  God does not want anyone to reject Him, but for everyone to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9 ).  He calls us to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), drawing everyone to Him!  We are to conduct ourselves in every area of our lives in a way that makes this happen (1 Peter 2:12).  

Change your Investment Strategy

Now that we understand that Jesus is after souls, we can adjust our efforts accordingly.  We can restructure our “portfolio” of investments in a way that is more likely to achieve these returns.  We can direct our efforts away from the pursuit of the world’s definition of success and toward Biblical success.

Some may question this path.  I understand.  It is not an easy one.  Sometimes the path is not clear.  Other times there are huge obstacles on this path.  The world certainly does not reward those who stick to this path.

At the same time, in taking this path, we are following the teachings of Jesus.  I cannot think of a better one to follow.  We are also trading temporary gains for those that are eternal.  We are trading rewards that are vulnerable to thieves, rust, and moths (Matthew 6:19-20) for those that are not!

I encourage you to embrace the path toward Biblical success.  Yes, you will have to run your business differently.  You will make different decisions, some that will cause those around you to call you crazy.  However, if you will keep your eye on the eternal prize, I am convinced you will not have any regrets.

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