Success. It's a word that is heard often in our society. Our parents tell us, work hard in school so that you can succeed later on in life. People tell us, whatever you do, give it your best and you can succeed. From time to time we heard of this successful businessman, doctor or lawyer. Our whole society seems to geared up towards "success".
But what is success? Simply defined, it is the accomplishment of something that one sets out to do. But this means that success is actually subjective, it varies from person to person, depending on what that person set out to do in his or her life. A little child who sets out to walk across the living room for the first time and makes it has as much right to say he has succeeded, as the businessman who has earned his first million.
But the flaw in our understanding of success is that we have come to see it as something objective, something with a fixed meaning. And this is due in no small part to the influence of the society that we live in. Here in where I live, success has come to be defined as a successful career and material wealth. I remember one of my friends telling me, "What's your idea of success? Mine is to earn lots and lots of money." As people earn more and advance higher, they are deemed more and more successful. In other societies and cultures success is viewed differently- raising a good family, living a devoted religious life, and so forth.
Our own view of success in this life must be to finish the work that God has given us. Hearing the word "work", you may be thinking- pastor, businessman, doctor, missionary, etc. But we must not make the mistake of thinking that God's work is equal to our occupation; that is a reflection of the values of our society which places such a high premium on career. No, no; our occupation is merely our playing field, our workplace- the real work that God has for us, is the same for all. Whether pastor or businessman, doctor or cleaner, politician or hawker, the work is to spread the good news of the Lord, to share His love with one and all, minister to His people, fight injustice here on earth, and to further the establishment of His Kingdom in the hearts of men. The list goes on and on. That is the real work that He calls us to. In what capacity each of us does this is between us and the Lord; we must each pray and seek out the Lord's path for us in our lives, and each of us is personally accountable to Him.