This was written for a group question at work. We have a group in which we have a thought provoking question and we respond by email. It's great to see the different perspective - each fairly similar yet unique to that individual. I debated about putting this out there but here goes. This is my response to the question of the week.
The question for the week:
What or how do you build a life of success?
On our own I don’t think we can build a life of success. It’s only by Christ working through us are we able to build a true life of success. What better role model do we have. Christ willingly left Heaven to be born of a virgin and bore on the cross the sins of the world for each of us. I can’t imagine how heavy that burden was.
I don’t believe success is measured by how much stuff we have or how much money we make. That may be the world’s standards but not God’s. We don’t know what’s going on in the life of that person that may be driving the Bentley or wearing the Prada. The “stuff” certainly doesn’t bring joy. Oh it may bring temporary happiness when they acquire such things. There is certainly nothing wrong with owning the things mentioned such as a Bentley, Mercedes, Coach, or designer clothing. We all like to have nice things. If I were to make a purchase of any of the more expensive items, I think I would need to examine what my motive is for wanting it. Why do I feel the need to own such and such? If it’s to make me look successful in the eyes of my peers then perhaps I need to reconsider. If it’s all about me or what others think of me then it’s not the best use of my money.
Success isn’t measured by how much you have but instead of by how much of yourself you are willing to give. When we take the focus off of ourselves, it is then that Christ can do great works through us. If we commit ourselves completely to living a life in Him then we live into his purpose for our life. Am I willing to give of myself for those I love? Am I willing to give of myself for those I don’t even know?
Life is a journey that we are each on. It is filled with ups and downs – peaks and valleys. It’s how we live into those peaks and valleys that shape how successful we feel we are. We may feel we are a failure when we are in the valley but in reality everybody, even someone you may feel is the most successful person you know, has valley times too. We can’t have the peak times without the valley. If we don’t know how to manage the peaks and valleys, then the peak times are filled with celebration while the valley times are filled with despair. And you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster. No fun – been there done that way too much. Instead, in the peak times of our lives we need to be sure to be grateful and humble. And in the valley times we need to be able to look at reality in truth to realize that perhaps it isn’t as bad as it seems and to find the good in the valley. It’s those things that will help us get back to the peak.
One of the traps I fall into is comparing myself with others. And I can assure you that comparison is the death of contentment. My reality is what it is. And I have no idea what the person that I am comparing myself to has going on in their own life.
So I guess for me to build a successful life I need to focus not on myself but on the relationships in my life. I have been blessed with a heritage of faith and it is my desire to see my children walk in faith. I need to love my family deeply – oh so very deeply. I need to be able to manage the peaks and valleys appropriately. I need to utilize my finances wisely in regards to spending and saving. Embrace reality for what it is. I need to be content in my own life instead of comparing myself to someone else. Pray for wisdom to know what things in my life can be changed if needed or to accept the things that cannot be changed. I need to be aware of the needs of others.
I need to be like Christ.
Oh my gosh, I’m definitely a work in progress.
