Right Goals and True Success

The new year always begins with resolutions or goals. Goals may be to read a book every month, lose weight, keep in touch with friends consistently, read the Bible every day, exercise regularly, learn a new skill, paint your house, get out of debt, etc. While all of these goals can be good they can be done without the right motive and with the wrong "success measuring tool".

I recently read an article about defining true success. Within that context, the author was pointing out that we can succeed for our own glory or for God's glory. She told a story of a girl who excelled at everything she did, graduating at the top of her class and being class valedictorian yet her success was empty. Why? Because she sought glory for herself and it was never enough. Then the author told another story about a man who chose to work hard while he was at work but when it was time to go home to his family, he did so. He lived his conviction to be a man of God and keep his family as his top priority after his Lord. Worrying about the outcome of this decision was not his focus, being obedient to God was.

In both cases there were goals and success. For the girl, the goals were accomplished and the success left her prideful yet empty. For the man, he accomplished what God called him to do as a man, employee and husband which was his goal. While he received earthly rewards, God was glorified by his obedience and faith - that success brought peace, fulfillment, and a lifestyle of humble dependence on God.

Which scenario best represents our lives? Are we characterized by a life that follows hard after God and His plans or by a life that is always seeking for more and more of what the world has to offer (at whatever price the world exacts)? It is my prayer that we are becoming ever increasingly more like Christ, seeing goals and success through His eyes.

In the article I mentioned, this wonderful hymn by Frances Brook was shared. Here I am sharing stanzas one and two. Enjoy!

"My Goal is God Himself"

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
'Tis His to lead me there- not mine, but His-
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith bounds forward to it's goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath fulfilled my deepest prayer