How to lead a successful life

So today I was sitting in music business class of all places and my teacher asked me what the meaning of success was.  As I was sitting there, I kept thinking of the fact that everyone has a little different view on what the word success looks like.  Some might say success as the american dream while others consider living in a mansion success.  I googled success and these are the pictures that came up.

The result varies.  Yet one of my classmates defined it as:

Success is the accomplishment of a desired goal

So, wow success can vary a lot because success is dependent on your goal and the goal you have is determined by mindset you have about a certain topic.

I don't know about you, but I want to be successful.  I want to lead a very successful life.  So, I had to ask myself as a Christian what does that look like?

I must align my goals with healthy goals in scripture.  Last time I checked the bible never promised everyone to be rich and famous, so if that is what we consider success than we better change our goals because we will probably be very disappointed one day.

So, let us dive in to a passage of scripture that I think will help us start thinking in a way that can set us up for success

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25: 14-30

Here is a few observations from this passage:

1. Every man got at least one bag.  So, we all get responsibilities, gifts, blessings…etc. from God

2. Not everyone got the same amount to begin with.  We all have different responsibilities, gifts, blessings…etc. from God

3. Among the two successful servants the amount of bags they had when their master came home was different.   Meaning success is not the same for everyone as far as numbers go.

So, how can we apply these principles to everyday life.

In this passage, we realize that God cares less about the amount you gain and more about how well you use the amount that you were given. 

He wants us to be good stewards of all that He has given you.  But lets take note that every man in this story receives a bag.  So we all have responsibilities, gifts and blessings that we need to take care of and be good stewards of.  Yet, the trouble comes when we start comparing bags, for more on this check out my blog on how comparison is the thief of joy.  When we compare the amounts we start with and the amounts we end with, we get disappointed but why should we? For the man who ended with 10 bags and the man with 5 bags both were considered successful to God.  So, our healthy goal should not be a number but rather a goal to make the best use of what we've got

So, let us commit to our bag, our load and responsibility and be faithful to it and watch it grow.  What if it does grow? be patient.  For like we saw in this stories, it was the faithfulness of the servants that was praised.  So be faithful to your responsibility.  Let that be your goal.  

My goal is to be called good and faithful servant at the end of my life.  So, success for me is to be faithful to the load God has given to me.  

So what's yours?

So, Readers I pray that we begin to renew our mind and set healthy goals.  God impressed upon my heart to start a series beginning with this one that focuses on changing our mindset and how that your mindset determines really the quality of your life.  So, if you think that is a good idea, please comment below and stay tuned for new posts. 

I love y'all

Kenady