Success and the ‘P’ Word
I have a confession to make. I’m prideful. I know, to those who know me, it’s probably not a big secret! But for a long time, it was a secret to me. I didn’t see it. In fact, I thought I was a pretty humble person. When you start thinking that, you’re probably in trouble!
My pride isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle, under the surface, barely detectable, but like termites eating away at the frame of a house, it’s there, slowly destroying me.
As I’ve struggled with the definition of success and what success means in my life, I’ve come back again and again to the subject of pride. As God has helped me fix my eyes on him and his plans for my life, I’ve realized that he’s intentionally allowed me to NOT achieve worldly success. It’s hard enough for me to be humble now. Imagine how bad it would be if I were a best-selling author of multiple books with people asking for my autograph!
Sometimes God allows us to be “failures” by the world’s standards because he’s much more concerned with our hearts. “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matt 16:26) He has an eternal perspective, and he’s not impressed by our worldly accomplishments.
Think about that: God would rather have you fail at everything, but have the humility to seek him than for you to be the greatest in the world and never see your need for him. That turns our definitions of success upside down!
Maybe someday God will be able to publish my writing without me getting prideful, thinking I’m wonderful and talented, and my hard work has brought this success. Maybe I’ll just always be a “closet” writer and only a few close friends and family will enjoy my work. My greatest prayer is no longer to find success and fulfillment, but rather for God to only give me what will bring me and others closer to him. If that means I always fail, that I can wallpaper my house in rejection letters, so be it.
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deut. 8:11-14)
Another Gospel – Part 2
Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead– 2 and all the brothers with me,
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
This week’s sermon was about how we find ourselves turning away from the Gospel. We don’t necessarily intend to walk about, but we do it in subtle ways. Sometimes we let guilt and shame convince us that we are unlovable. Sometimes we believe that we have to earn our way to Heaven in addition to accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. Sometimes we add rules to follow in order to justify our salvation. All of these are forms of abandoning the true Gospel of Jesus Christ’s grace and mercy.
2010-08-22 Another Gospel 2
2010-08-22 Galatians 1: 1-10
2010-08-15 Another Gospel
2010-08-15 Galatians 1:1-10
BLOOD DONORS NEEDED
If are Rh- blood type you could help save lives in Korea. Stem cells are desperately needed. Call Nurse Moon at 010-3007-3340. She is Dr. Moon’s nurse and speaks English. Pray about helping with this vital medical need.
2010-08-01 God’s Way or the Highway
2 Samuel 6: 1-12
