An Allergy to Worldly Success
About fifteen or twenty years ago, I found myself immersed in literature about “success.” I must confess that in the past, I harbored an almost allergic reaction to discussions on this topic. This aversion stemmed from the all-too-common association of success with “get-rich-quick” schemes or the dubious practices of health-and-wealth gospel proponents. These perspectives often define success in terms of money, stature, pleasure, power, and comfort – essentially, whatever appeals to our basest desires for self-exaltation.
As I continued studying the topic, I came to appreciate attempts to redefine success in more noble terms. Some authors described it as reaching one’s potential or serving others by being the best version of oneself. While this approach seemed positive and was certainly a step in the right direction, I couldn’t help but feel that something crucial was missing – namely, God.
The Missing Piece
As a follower of Jesus Christ, my deepest desire is to be the best I can possibly be – for God… to honor and please him. This encompasses every aspect of my life: being the best husband, father, pastor, etc., I can be, by his grace and for his glory. Fortunately, God hasn’t left us to navigate this journey alone. He’s revealed clear parameters for success in his Word. In fact, I discovered much on this topic in, of all places, the book of Deuteronomy.
Let’s take a look at what God says about true success:
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 states, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”
Verse 13 continues this theme: “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
The Consequences of Disobedience
In contrast to these blessings, Moses provides a sobering warning in verse 15: “However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”
He elaborates on these consequences in verses 29 and 44: “At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you... He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail.”
Now, I acknowledge that these passages raise complex questions that we don’t have time to fully address here. For instance, why do the wicked sometimes prosper? Or why are faithful believers occasionally persecuted? These are important questions, but they are outside the purpose of today’s post and require deeper exploration than we can provide in this context.
The Core Principle
What I want to emphasize is the main principle expressed in these verses. From a covenantal perspective, true God-glorifying success comes through being rightly related to God (as Israel was) and then obeying him, thus receiving his blessings for doing so. Success may manifest differently for each individual, but success that honors God is found only through this path of obedience and right relationship with him. This is not only an Old Testament idea.
In the New Testament, we find a parallel concept in the idea of fruitfulness. Just as fruit cannot fully blossom apart from its relationship to its root, we cannot bear much good and lasting fruit if we are not abiding in Christ and allowing him to abide in us. Jesus himself emphasizes this truth in John 15, stating that apart from him, we can do nothing of eternal value. I invite you to read John 14 and 15 and count the number of times Jesus emphasizes the connection between love for God and obedience to him.
This is not a works-righteousness teaching, but it is to say that our love for Jesus “looks” like something - obedience. However, let me state again, that we are only able to obey because we are rightly related to God by grace through faith in Christ, not by seeking to earn his favor through obedience. We should rejoice that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead has now taken up residence in us and is animating our lives for God’s greater glory.
Success That Truly Matters
While the world offers many perspectives on success – some helpful, others less so – followers of Christ must recognize that true success, the kind that bears good and lasting fruit, is rooted in obedience to our King. This principle is non-negotiable and foundational. Without it, we may achieve worldly accolades, but we’ll ultimately find ourselves living as the “tail” instead of the “head” in God’s economy.
As we conclude this exploration of success that honors God, I encourage you to reflect on your own definition of achievement. Are you pursuing success according to God’s standards, or have you inadvertently adopted the world’s metrics? Are you doing everything you do for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)?
Remember, true success is not about accumulating wealth, power, or prestige. It’s about aligning our lives with God’s will, obeying his commands, and bearing fruit that glorifies him. This kind of success may not always look impressive by worldly standards, but it carries eternal significance and brings lasting fulfillment. And it pleases the only audience that matters.
I invite you to join me in pursuing this God-honoring success. Let’s encourage one another to stay rooted in Christ, to obey his Word, and to measure our achievements by his standards. Together, we can redefine success in a way that truly glorifies our Creator and benefits those around us.
Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. If you've found this discussion valuable, I encourage you to share it with friends, family, or anyone else you think would be blessed by it. Consider subscribing for more content like this, and invite others to do the same. Together, we can cultivate a community dedicated to pursuing success that honors God in every sphere of our lives.
As always a tremendous reading for continued growth. Thank you Dale.