A Successful Life

Have you ever wondered what it takes to have a “successful” life? This question is often evaluated by such things as: my level of happiness, how much money I have, fulfillment in my job, if I feel liked/accepted by others, how much I feel in control of my life, how my kids are functioning, how well I’m getting along with my spouse, and the list goes on and on. In short, many of the ways we define “success” is by how well our felt needs are being met by our external circumstances.

The problem is that we can never control our external circumstances, and so we have no guarantee from day to day whether or not our felt needs will get met. I recently read a book written to help pastors define what it means to have a “successful” ministry. The author listed seven biblical attributes of success that not only apply to ministry, but life overall:

1. Faithfulness:
obedience to God’s word and diligence in persevering through trials

2. Service:
a posture of humility that looks for ways to serve others with gladness

3. Love:
a heart of sincere regard for God and others that shows up in word and deed

4. Belief:
a foundation of right doctrine that is based in the Bible and leads to life transformation

5. Prayer:
a recognition of dependence on God that produces ongoing communication with him

6. Holiness:
commitment to God even when others aren’t around, being free of worldly attachments

7. Attitude:
a countenance that reflects hope rather than cynicism or pessimism

I encourage you to spend some time with this list. Which one(s) are you strong in, and which one(s) do you struggle with? Ask someone you trust for feedback, and then listen with an open heart. And, finally, remember that none of these can be produced in our own power or strength; rather, they can only be cultivated by a life grounded in the Holy Spirit each and every day. And as we continue to look to him to produce each of these in and through us, we can trust he is creating for us a truly successful life.

Ben