Over this past weekend, my husband and I spent a considerable amount of time digging around in the mud. We were attempting to replace a broken stock tank in order to divert water from the natural spring which runs down the mountain behind our home. Between the tremendous amount of water flowing from this spring and an average annual rainfall of 55-65 inches, we have a water problem. But we have experienced some measure of success by channeling water through a series of stock tanks down to the creek.
I must admit, the idea of using stock tanks connected by underground pipes is ingenious. Since the tanks are placed downhill from each other, gravity does the work of moving the water without a pump. Previous owners set up the original system, but it has remained broken since we moved to the farm over a year ago. Our present water project is an effort to get the system up and running again. If we can keep most of the water flowing down to the creek, we hope to lessen the sogginess of our pastures. So far, we’ve achieved partial success but still have a long way to go to reach our goal of dry ground in the farmyard.
So, this begs the question, what is a true measure of success? If we only achieve partial success in our life goals is that enough?
The world typically gauges success based on a certain level of accomplishment. Often, we measure those accomplishments by the amount of money, power, or prestige gained in the process. We tend to label successful people as those who are in the top echelon of the rich and famous. But is achieving this type of worldly success of any lasting value?
Several years ago, an acquaintance bragged to me about his net worth. At the time, it topped ten million dollars. However, not satisfied with this, he set a personal goal to reach the twenty-million-dollar mark. Once he accomplished this level of success, he knew he would be happy. But happy compared to what? If he obtains his goal and doesn’t find the happiness he seeks, will the bar move even higher?
In God’s economy, the measure of success is calculated with a completely different yardstick. Look at the life of Mother Theresa as an example. She did achieve a certain level of prestige and fame in her work with the poor of Calcutta. However, any power or money gained through her efforts wasn’t used for her own promotion but to fund her ongoing ministry. She didn’t seek name recognition as an influencer. Yet, her faithfulness, made her name known to the world. Mother Theresa understood the secret of Godly success.
God doesn’t ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.
Mother Theresa, The Joy in Living: A Guide to Daily LIving.
For you see, God isn’t concerned with what type of work you do. You may labor as a custodian, a cardiologist, or a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It’s not what you do but how you do it that matters to God. Let us learn from the words of the Apostle Paul.
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-4 Message Bible
Faithfulness is the conduit through which God spreads His love throughout the world. Our ultimate measure of success depends on how willingly we allow that love to flow through us.
Just as our stock tanks are meant to channel spring water to the animals and then to the creek, God wants us to faithfully channel His love through us to the world. It doesn’t matter whether our work is menial or magnificent by earthly standards. God calls us to live as faithful servants and conduits of His love. Don’t allow the world to determine the value of what you do. Remember, at the end of our lives . . . only God can and will judge our measure of success.
If you missed my post about our natural spring, you can find it in the September 2022 article on my website www.suzannemontgomery.com).
What a wonderful post, Suzanne! You’re so right. We tend to place too much value on our own importance when in the end, we are least important and what we’ve accomplished amounts to little unless we’ve remained faithful and loved others. Thanks for the reminder.