Unchained (2)

What is success?

Everyone desires to be successful. Whether you are a gamer, farmer, doctor, politician, homemaker, student, or athlete. The desire to succeed is imbedded within the heart of every human.

To succeed is too accomplish that which we set our eyes upon and serves as a validation of our character, worth, and gives a reason to continue in a pursuit of goals.

However, failure will serve as the opposite and can lead to discouragement, loss of ambition, and a diminishing of viewed potential.

Proverbs 29:18 ESV

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

The Hebrew text would say that where there is no prophetic words the people are empty or preparing to die. This scripture is telling us that when there is no hope of future blessing the people give up.

Proverbs 13:12 ESV

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

How we define success will set the stage for how we approach life. Too often the church has allowed the secular world to re-define what God has already laid out in clear fashion.

So what is biblical success?

Let’s start with what success is not.

Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods describes the idol in these words:

“More than other idols, personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are God. . . . To be the very best at what you do, to be at the top of the heap, means no one is like you. You are supreme.”

1. Success is not necessarily measured by results.

Ezekiel preached a lifetime without results. Yet who would dare say that he was not a success.

2. Success is not necessarily measured by faithfulness.

We can be faithful, consistent yet be faithful to the wrong things or with the wrong spirit, and this may cause is to not succeed at God’s plan for our lives.

3. Success may not be measured motivations.

Many people have great motives and intentions yet miss the mark. Some of histories greatest tragedies have been done in the namer of religion by people who had sincere intentions but were deceived.

What Biblical success is.

Matthew 25:14–30 KJV 1900

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is telling the disciples that success will be measured according to the fathers standards and not our own and that this success will only be obtained through diligent, meticulous attention to His pattern and will.

As we look at 2Timothy 2:1-7 we will see that Paul lays out the recipe for success by giving four examples. We will look at these briefly this morning and see the biblical definition of a successful life.

The Teacher 1-2

The Soldier 3-4

The Athlete 5

The Farmer 6

Application 7

The teacher is one who has dedicated their life to investing in the growth of others.

The first key to success is found when we live for the benefit of others. There are few things that will cause personal failure than selfishness.

Christ, whom we would all agree was the epitome of success, lived the ultimate selfless life.

Paul invested into his spiritual son and as he is preparing to die his thoughts are towards Timothy. Why? Because Paul’s greatest success was in the message he had instilled within Timothy.

If our church dies, if our nation dies, if our homes die, it will be because we failed to pass on to others what God has instilled within our hearts.

The Soldier is one whom is prepared to endure hardship. Success is often defined not by what we accomplish but rather by what we endure.

Anyone can hold fast during moments of peace and safety. However, a good soldier does not run from the battle but rather to the battle.

If we would learn to fight as hard for God as we do to keep God out of our lives we would experience success like we have never known.

The Athlete is the one who finds success according to the rules.

The olympics are currently being held in Tokyo and this week there has been controversy after a swimmer has alleged that the sport is riddled with doping.

Lance Armstrong the most decorated cyclist of all time was stripped of his medals and honor because he had failed to play by the rules.

If we find success it will only be found when we live according to the rule book that god has given us.

The Bible is our guide. Success is found wen we live according to God’s Word.

A successful life is one that is aligned with Gods Word.

The Farmer is the most complicated example to understand.

There is one aspect that teaches that a minister is to receive an adequate salary, “Partaker of the first fruits”.

However, the greater picture points to the reward of a life of success.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

A life of success is a life that is lived for an eternal reward rather than a temporal one.

Matthew 6:19 KJV 1900

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Thus we can see from the bible that a life of success is a life that is spent laying up eternal treasures. it is a life that is spent in recognition of the mortality of this life and the immortality of the life to come.

The beginning of this pursuit is found at Calvary.

John 14:1–6 KJV 1900

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.