How do you define success?
Success: A person’s success is measured by the amount of positive impact that they create on the universe, while they exist. For instance, a business man might be very wealthy, but they are not successful, unless they have contributed to the overall wealth and prosperity of the entire population. This view contradicts pretty much every other view held today, but it is the standard by which I measure success. If I gain a million dollars a year, and I am the only one benefiting from it, then I am not successful, just wealthy.
Our purpose in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If we are not doing this by sharing the wealth and resources that God has given to us, then we cannot be successful in our life, because anything that we gain in this world, that benefits only us, we will lose the instant we die. However, if use the wealth, power, and influence that God has granted us, to help other people, then we will affect not only ourselves, but others as well.
However, if we simply distribute our wealth among the population, then that cannot be defined as success, either, because we are not accomplishing anything of lasting effect, we are simply giving away useful resources. What needs to be done, in order that it may be counted as success in an eternal perspective, is distribute our wealth and resources, and use our power and influence in such a way as accomplishes the divine goals that God has set before us. If you use twenty billion dollars to free the 27 million slaves currently in bondage today, and simply let them loose on the world, you will 1) Simply have matters worse, because you now have 27 million people roaming the world, with no way to make a living, creating some serious population issues, and 2) you have still done nothing that is of any eternal worth, because while 27 million lives have been saved, their souls are still in the exact same state as before, and when the world is destroyed, or when those people eventually die off, then them being free will not have been of any benefit to them, whatsoever.
That is what happened with the Civil War. The Federal troops invaded the south to “free” the slaves, but when the war was over, they were in worse shape than when it started. When they were slaves, they were fed and cared for by the owners of the plantation that they worked at. After they were “freed,” they were a confused mass, left to find their way in the world, without any knowledge of how it worked. However, if the American government had taken the time and resources to care for the slaves after they were “freed,” and provide them with jobs and homes, then the war would not have been a needless waste of lives.
The amount of success a person has in life is not measured by how wealthy they are, or how influential they are, but how they use that wealth and influence to affect other people. Implied in that definition, is that, while you can be wealthy, and not successful, you can also be fairly poor according to the world’s standards, but successful according to God’s. If you use what you have to glorify Him, even when you don’t have much, than you glorify Him even more, making yourself more successful.
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny.
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44(Credit: Bible Gateway)
Filed under: Religion, School | Tagged: bible, civil war, glorify god, glorifying god, Mark 12:41-44, money, Religion, slaves, success, wealth
Great post! I guess it boils down to what Jesus said — “If someone compels you to go one mile, go two.” The first step (freeing slaves) appeases your own conscience and makes you feel like you did something, the second step (funding their re-integration into society) is the one that makes all the difference. Thanks for making me think!
Found your blog through the Rebelution.
Your welcome! Thanks, that is one of the biggest compliments anyone can give me, that I made them think!
Hmmm, what is the scriptural basis for, “a business man might be very wealthy, but they are not successful, unless they have contributed to the overall wealth and prosperity of the entire population”? How does God define success? Isn’t that a more important question? Shouldn’t we define success as God does? Was Paul successful in God’s eyes when he wrote, “To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” I Corinthians 4:11-13
Just encouraging you to think a bit more…
Well done, Trey. I don’t completely agree with all of that, but it was well written!
I personally believe, yes it is defined by the steps we make toward storing treasures up in heaven, but also heavily defined by a person’s destiny. Which means success for one person could be completely different from the success determined by another. I believe God has destined all of us to a certain cause, job, calling, etc. and that every step toward that, including all the relationships we cultivate, seeds we sow, and lives we change, determines our personal success.
I believe it is an open-ended definition.
Good job, Trey, great essay!
I’m sorry, I think I misphrased it. I was referring to helping the poor and those that are in need.
Ok, about the whole slave thing, when IJM or “Free the Slaves” and I am assuming other organizations free slaves they don’t just give them no place to go but help them find jobs and get readjusted. They also provide counseling. So unless you freed slaves without an organization which would be immensely hard to do, since you would have to find all the people in the law process and stuff, there wouldn’t be 27 million people roaming the world without a job. Just to make you think about the logic. But all together a good post.
I wasn’t saying that they did. I am glad that they do, and I am sorry if I came off sounding like I was trying to accuse anyone of anything.
No problem Trey. I just wanted to clarify. It would be almost impossible (and very stupid) to do what you mentioned. As I said, just making you think through your logic.
Let me be very clear about this – we help thousands of people come to freedom each year and we NEVER move to liberation until there is a funded plan in place to help them achieve economic autonomy, education, safety, health care, citizenship and their own human dignity. To do so would be short-sighted and cruel and would repeat the botched emancipation that occurred in the USA in 1865. Also, 27 million people wouldn’t create a population problem, they are such a tiny fraction of the current world population of 6.75 Billion. But freed they WOULD create economic growth, increased education for their children, and help to reduce corruption. They would also be able to explore and grow in their spirituality and faith – something absolutely denied to them in slavery.
If you’d like to know more about how freed slaves grow and change visit our website at http://www.freetheslaves.net
Thanks for an interesting post,
Kevin Bales
President, Free the Slaves
Thanks for the info! I’m glad that someone is out there, actively freeing slaves!
Hey Mr. Bales,
Just to let you know I totally flipped out when Trey told me that you had left a comment. I am a very passionate abolitionist and have mentioned you guys in my blog and I have a link to you guys on the sidebar. I am also part of the Free The Slave Online Community and hope to raise some money for you guys after I finish my campaign for IJM. (Who we decided to go with them because my dad knew more about them. He had actually applied for a job there and read the book by the founder.(I believe that is who it is by.))
I was also wondering (if I don’t get a response I’ll maybe email you or someone from Free The Slaves later) what sort of work do you do with former slaves in the US? I would love to find a way to work WITH the people if that was ever possible. I have a friend I want to get in contact with you that wants to find ways to bring the gospel to former slaves. She actually wants to start an organization that works to free slaves, then preaches the gospel to them(SAVE, student abolitionists and vocal evangelists). So after they are free from their physical bondage they can be free from the spiritual. If you want to get in contact with her you can contact me through my blog, or through Trey. I hope to hear back from you.
In Christ alone,
Olivia