There was a time when I worried about whether or not I would be successful. I had an idea in my mind as to what success looked like and I wondered if I would achieve that. Since that time however, the game has changed. I’ve been learning more and more that what really matters is identifying what true success actually is. Proverbs 10:2 says…

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

What treasures are worth having? What actually has lasting value? This is where we need to seek God. We must confront the truth that we see an extremely limited picture. I don’t like to think that. In fact, I like to think I’m really smart. I want to believe that my perspective is generally right on the money. I get this idea by comparing myself with others and trying to measure up to certain standards. This is largely a lie. Each of us has a limited perspective and this becomes increasingly clear as we consider the perspective that God has. Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This means that God is the one who can guide us to be truly successful. In order for that to happen however, we must humble ourselves. As 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” If we refuse to humble ourselves then God will allow us to go our own way. The only way for us to achieve true success in this life is to allow God to guide us in his purposes because only he has the perspective to decide what true success is.

Do you think of yourself as successful? Why or why not?