A Measure of Success
September 3, 2000
Dear Friends:
Success in its many variations – fame, fortune, beauty, power, friends, education, pedigree – are thrust upon us daily. We are constantly barraged with books, seminars, tapes and the like which tells us how important success is and how to be successful. Some of these borrow principles from the Bible while others take a decidedly humanistic or paganistic approach.
It is interesting to note, that for the most part, the common attribute of modern success do not match very closely with the mortal life of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How about fame? Jesus died in relative obscurity. Jesus was well-known within the small area of Palestine, but remained virtually unknown in the greater Roman habitable until years after his death and resurrection.
How about fortune? Jesus says to a potential disciple that “the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Jesus was not a rich man.
How about beauty? Despite the way he is often depicted in movies, if we are to believe the prophet Isaiah, “he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” (Is. 53:2b NIV) He was not a particularly handsome man.
How about power? Jesus had power in a sense. He was given the power of the Holy Spirit “without measure.” Yet, this is not the power which people speak of today when the speak of power. Jesus’ political power was yet future.
How about friends? When Jesus was taken prisoner, betrayed by one of his 12 closest friends, all of his other friends fled. One of his best friends would not even admit that he knew Jesus. For the most part, when he died, he died friendless and alone.
How about education? Jesus was highly educated, but not in the sense that achieved any recognition or respect from the so-called elite. All of the scholars of his day questioned how someone could know so much without a formal degree from one of their schools.
How about pedigree? Jesus had a pedigree without peer. He was the son of King David, but more importantly the Son of the one true God. Yet, in his mortal life, he was seen as the illegitimate son of a carpenter.
There is no doubt to any believer that Jesus was the most successful human being to walk the face of the planet. Yet, when defining success in our society’s terms, we see his life as anything but successful. What we hope to discuss in coming weeks is what is true success and how do we achieve it.
Have a great week!
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