Success (10/29/2025)

How does one know if one’s succeeding?

In 1973, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show claimed it would land one on the cover of “Rolling Stone” magazine. Today, I’m afraid it is measured in “likes.” But seriously, how does one know if one’s succeeding? Is it one’s bank balance? Is it one’s name recognition? What is the hallmark characteristic of true success in life?

Over the years, I’ve known many people who had grown wealthy but were always looking for additional wealth. I’ve also known many people who were not wealthy but were satisfied with life. So, I wouldn’t put wealth as a hallmark of success. Thinking about success, I always imagine that it should bring happiness. And identifying that characteristic, I narrow the field. I think real success in life brings peace, that sense of being whole, that sense of living into the one we are created to be. I know many people that I consider a success and all of them possess a humble and loving character.

Jesus spoke to us often about success through parables like rich fool and the workers in the vineyard and through phrases such as “the last shall be first.” We learn early on that our worldly expectations of success don’t look like the LORD’s definition of success. So, if we’re looking for true and lasting success, shouldn’t we at least consider “the Way and the Truth and the Life” and His eternally relevant pointers?

If we read the gospels, we realize early on that more isn’t always better, sometimes it’s just more and it gets in the way of us discovering truth over the pile of material things. If we read the gospels, we also discover in short order that love of the LORD and one another plays an extremely important role in Jesus’ teachings and commands.  And this helps us to understand that success isn’t external, success is internal, success is living into the one the LORD created us to be. The saints figure it out; all be it not usually immediately. And that’s part of the road to success, learning what it is not.

As the fall leaves swirl about us on the sidewalks and roadways as we rush by during these autumn days, they call us to remember that time is passing. Have we found the way to success? Have we identified the building blocks of success? Have we discovered that our lives are a journey back home? Will we arrive successful? Will the LORD call us “faithful servants”? A lot to consider.

May we all find the answers to the essential questions. I pray that we all succeed.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.