How Should I Measure Success?

In Hebrews 11:6 I read, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (NIV)

It would be better to attempt to do something great with my life and fail, than to attempt to do nothing with my life, and succeed.

Yet, this is where most people (including myself at times) are! Drifting through life with no goals. Not aiming for the moon because of being so afraid to fail, that they just hit the fence post. People have forgotten or never understood that failure is not the same as being unable to do something. Failure is being unwilling to try. It’s okay for you to say, “At least I tried.”

This is faith. To move forward in spite of my fears. The Bible says in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (NIV). When I move forward and show God I’m willing to trust him with the unknown, I am choosing how much God will bless my life.

Life is a marathon. People do not run a marathon to get first place. Only one person out of the thousands running can get first place. They run a marathon to finish and be able to say, “I did it. I tried!”

I’ll never be number one in most things in life. What really matters is: Did I finish the race, or did I quit too soon and coast for the latter part of life? Did I run hard and fast for Jesus Christ until the day he took me?

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (NIV). Faith means I try. I set a goal, take risks, and work hard. Whether or not I reach my goal or challenge is irrelevant.

When I attempt something for the glory of God, I can’t be considered a failure, no matter what happens. If I’m doing something in faith, then I’m already a success.

In summary, without faith it is impossible to please God. It would be better to attempt to do something great and fail, than to attempt to do nothing, and succeed. Yet, this is where most people (including myself at times) are! Drifting through life with no goals. Not aiming because of being so afraid to fail.. People have forgotten or never understood that failure is not the same as being unable to do something. Failure is being unwilling to try. Faith is moving forward in spite of my fears. “According to my faith let it be done to me”. When I move forward and show God I’m willing to trust him with the unknown, I am choosing how much God will bless my life. Life is a marathon and people do not run it to get first place. They run a marathon to finish and be able to say, “I did it. I tried!” What really matters is: Did I finish the race, or did I quit too soon and coast for the latter part of life? Did I run hard and fast for Jesus Christ. Faith means I try. I set a goal, take risks, and work hard. Whether or not I reach my goal or challenge is irrelevant. When I attempt something for the glory of God, I can’t be considered a failure, no matter what happens. If I’m doing something in faith, then I’m already a success.

Father, you want my trust. I need to adjust my thinking. I don’t need to win, I just need to try and do the best I can and finish. What I do should be for your Glory Father and not mine. I pray that through my small, daily, consistent acts of discipline I remember to do so in faith. I ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.