- 2 John 1:12 (NKJV) Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
The last few days of an old year and the first few days of a new year is a good time for reflection and reevaluating your life.
One of the most important things I have learned over the years is to be very intentional about defining success. I’m afraid that most people go through life with little more than a vague sense of what success is for them and thus they never know if they are truly being successful.
Or worst yet, they allow others to define success for them and spend their lives trying to meet other people’s expectations without really addressing their own needs and purpose in life.
Don’t do that! Define success for yourself as you go into a new year. This time next year know it you had a good year or not; know if you were successful.
Over the next few days I am going to offer a few ideas to help you work out your definition of success, I pray that they will be helpful.
My first definition may be a surprise, but here goes:
- Success is: To be at peace with God and if possible all people
Most people think of success in terms of doing something, achieving certain objectives or reaching certain goals. While this is important, it is possible to achieve great things and accumulate great riches and yet lose your soul, your family and your friends.
Please believe me, goals are important and producing is essential, but if you destroy relationships in the process then you will not achieve true and lasting success. I’ve tried to minister to far too many old, lonely and bitter people to doubt this.
(If you are busy the rest is not necessary to read)
Yesterday Sonja and I visited my parents in Walhalla to celebrate Christmas. It was just the four of us. We gathered together in the room where mom had sat up for Christmas. We were in no hurry but simply enjoyed each other’s company.
Our conversation turned to yester years: Christmases past, childhood memories, parenting and grandparenting stories, and departed loved-ones that we missed but knew they were with Jesus and that one day we would see them again. We read the Christmas story and spent a few moments in prayer and worship. Bottom line, it was a precious unhurried evening of being with God and family (who were also dear friends).
There were presents to be handed out but they were the last thing on the agenda last night. Thanks to God’s abundant blessing upon our lives we didn’t need anything. The presents were only a reflection of our love for each other. The delight came from being able to give – thanks to God – to people that we loved and cared for.
In other words, things didn’t matter that much – it was being at peace with God and each other that made the night a success.
There was no undercurrent of unresolved conflict and bitterness. There was only the warm glow of family, faith and eternal friendships.
That dear friend:
- More than anything that money can buy
- More than fame and fortune
- More that stuff and style
- More that position and power
- Far more…is my definition of true success.
The ONE THING 