Friday, November 07, 2008
Success!
Adrian Warnock recently looked at a bunch of scripture on success. He looked at figures like David, Nehemiah, Jacob and concluded:
Do I fear to pray for success? Absolutely, but mostly because I believe, in a fallen world, success is unattainable. I have enjoyed much material success in my life, but with it have come many painful lessons in other parts of my life. Humility is the most necessary and the hardest of lessons.
Should we pray for success? Indeed, but not for our own, for the Lord's. Adrian discusses "Success beyond our natural abilities." Sadly that border is not always evident - particularly to ourselves. Unless of course, we realize that we have no capability absent God's genuine gift.
Therein lies the key to praying for success - deep, abiding humility. I want to make sure I have that firmly in hand before I ask for God's success. The alternative is that God will use that success to teach me that humility.
But then, maybe that is God's true measure of success?
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It struck me that those of us who believe in the sovereignty of God have a common temptation to react so strongly against "faith" teaching that we feel fearful to ever follow this biblical example and ask for success. But it really does seem that a mark of the Lord being "with" someone is this surprising success that seems disproportionate to a person's natural ability. This is what the grace of God is all about. It means that God often chooses someone and plucks them from obscurity to be successful. It also means that we should not feel so shy about asking for God to grant us success.There is some truth in that, but that last sentence is a real kicker. For generally, with the Lord's blessings of success, comes His lessons in humility. Jacob's success in Egypt began with his humiliation at the hands of his brothers. David's reign as king was marked with the tragedy of his personal sin and the anguish so evident in his many Psalms.
God doesn't grant such favor in order for us to be proud. Quite the opposite, because it is his to give and he makes us look better than we are, the glory goes to him alone.
Do I fear to pray for success? Absolutely, but mostly because I believe, in a fallen world, success is unattainable. I have enjoyed much material success in my life, but with it have come many painful lessons in other parts of my life. Humility is the most necessary and the hardest of lessons.
Should we pray for success? Indeed, but not for our own, for the Lord's. Adrian discusses "Success beyond our natural abilities." Sadly that border is not always evident - particularly to ourselves. Unless of course, we realize that we have no capability absent God's genuine gift.
Therein lies the key to praying for success - deep, abiding humility. I want to make sure I have that firmly in hand before I ask for God's success. The alternative is that God will use that success to teach me that humility.
But then, maybe that is God's true measure of success?
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