PART FIVE: Breaking the Mold

THE FIRST STEP

What would it take for you to consider yourself successful? Describe what a successful life looks like to you on the lines below.

SEEKING HIS PATH

You may be wondering what a study about walking in step with God has to do with examining your concept of success. The answer is found in the prophet Amos’ rhetorical question: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3, NKJV). The answer, of course, is no. You must concur with your companion on the path, pace, and destination of your journey in order to be able to travel with him or her. You also must know the likes and dislikes of the other person. Therefore, if God’s vision of success is one thing and yours is another, it will always be impossible for you to keep in step with Him. You cannot be truly successful if you are not in tune with His will, and the only way to accomplish this is to learn His ways, His thoughts, and His plan for your life.

From the time we are very young, the world teaches us a certain standard of success. We pursue prominence, prestige, power, wealth, beauty, and/or knowledge in an attempt to prove we are worthy, valuable, and deserve to be loved. God, however, sees far beyond what you own or become in the here and now. His concern is with eternity—where earthly prominence, prestige, power, wealth, beauty, and knowledge all pass away and only His glory, wisdom, and power remain. To Him, you are precious, important, and worthy of love even before you come into existence. Therefore, success is not about proving yourself, but about becoming all you were created to be—embracing His will for your life and walking obediently in it in order to grow in your intimate relationship with Him.

There is a remarkable difference in these two standards of success, isn’t there? The destinations are tremendously dissimilar, as well. If you pursue the things the world values, you always need just a little more. You are always in danger of falling short, of someone gaining an advantage over you—of losing. And in the end, it all fades away (1 John 2:17). But when you trust Jesus as your Savior and seek His plans and purposes for you, suddenly everything changes. Why? Because in Him you have been given “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). Your life is no longer a pursuit of the things you don’t have because you already have everything you will ever need (Matt. 6:25–33).

Rather, your goal becomes embracing what you have already been given—an intimate relationship with God. Or, as Paul put it, you “take hold of that which is life indeed” (1 Tim. 6:19). As you turn to Him out of love and fellowship, the intimate moments you share with the Savior are the very times when He reveals Himself to you. With your mind focused on knowing and worship-ing Him, you sense His close, awesome presence in increasing measure.

DEEPER IN INTIMACY; FURTHER IN OBEDIENCE

Will you hold on to your own view of success and continue to fight against God concerning the purpose for which you were created? Or will you break the mold; discard your understanding of success; take hold of the path, pace, and destination He has for you; and walk with Him no matter what? This is not a one-time decision but a choice you make daily as you journey with the Lord and grow in your love relationship with Him. The world will continually draw you toward the things that are temporary and unsatisfying. But keep your eyes fixed on Him. You can be sure that as you follow Him in obedience, you will “store up for [yourself] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matt. 6:20).

YOUR WALK OF FAITH

David understood this, which is why his final command to Solomon was, “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kin. 2:3). This is the challenge for you, as well. Ask God to help you do this and to learn how to release the successes the world offers so you can find true victory and intimacy with Him.