Today, we are going to explore how to redefine winning as Christ Followers.
In our last blog post, Cuffed To Comparison – Sermon Notes, I noted briefly how Pastor Mike spoke a bit about success for believers.
He pointed out that we should ‘only use metrics to measure volume, not value’.
In other words, success in terms of numbers and data may logically reflect volume but it is not a reliable marker for importance and impact.
A person with thousands of followers online is considered more successful than those with a few hundred.
This is how society defines it.
The world measures success by metrics but we must do the opposite.
This truth is convicting because almost all of us can relate to attributing success to those people with a greater yield in terms of numbers.
By ascribing value to volume, we miss out on many gems and blessings that people have to offer.
Redefine Winning
It is in our best interest not to conform the the world’s definition of winning. See Romans 12:2
You see, success as the world defines it leads to burnout.
Their way might certainly meet targets and achieve lofty goals but these paths often rob us of fulfilment and purpose.
We instead, are to have a kingdom mindset.
We ought to accept that success is measured not by numbers but by obedience.
“Your yes to God is what matters”
– Michael Todd
Does obedience to God mean I’ll always see success in what I’m doing?
Winning comes through living out the purpose God has placed within us.
A life surrendered to Christ is one of true success. This is kingdom success.
Below are a few scriptures to use to grasp the right perspective on success.
We have chosen to share the ESV translation – our preferred version for scripture study and analysis.
Scriptures To Help Us Redefine Winning
Jeremiah 1:4-10
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Commentary
This passage of scripture shows us that obedience is really all that is required of us.
Just like He did here for Jeremiah, He has put great purpose on each of our lives.
He is sovereign and intentional.
God has already laid out a path for us and we need only to trust Him and respond in obedience to any request He makes of us.
We need not fear because He is Emmanuel – God with us.
Just as He lovingly assures Jeremiah, He will give us all we need (words etc.) to see His plans through to completion.
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Commentary
We see here that active participation is required from us.
James makes it very clear that we get the blessings of God (success) when we become doers.
Obedience is not a passive activity.
It requires diligence and perseverance for which we will be duly rewarded.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Commentary
Again, success in the kingdom will look drastically different from the success of the world.
The bible does not define it as something glamorous or easy.
It is serious business and requires spiritual strength.
To be steadfast and immovable we need to wear the spiritual armor we have been given.
We press into our faith and seek to honor Christ in all we do, knowing that this is true success that He will not ignore.
Success honoring is His will above our own.
Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Commentary
What a sobering question Jesus asks here.
He essentially confirms that the success of the world is utterly useless.
When we work in obedience with an eternal perspective, we will ultimately breed success in our lives.
This is truly how to redefine winning.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Commentary
These verses paint a beautiful picture of success as defined in the Word.
Those of us who purpose to abide under the shadow of the Almighty will be just like this wise man who lives with a solid foundation.
The success of the world is not stable.
Several factors can influence and diminish it.
Not so for kingdom success.
Our obedience to God will yield rewards that serve us far beyond this life.
Reflection Questions To Help Us Redefine Winning
So many of us make that error of confusing volume with value.
We believe the lie that we aren’t successful because we compare ourselves to those established in different fields.
We limit ourselves to thinking that only those defined as successful by society truly are and we too often fail to see the massive impact we are having in our small circles.
The good thing is that is never to late to turn things around.
Here are just 3 questions to help you do a spiritual heart check:
- Have you been erroneously following the world’s definition of winning?
- When you look at where you are currently, do you experience anxiety and dissatisfaction
- What purpose has God laid on your heart to do and have you taken steps towards fulfilling it?
Before You Go
By now we hopefully all agree that true success is kingdom success and; this kingdom winning comes through our obedience.
So friend, let us stop looking at the next person and stay in our own lanes.
After all, one sure way to fail is to attempt to run someone else’s race.
Trust that the God we serve will finish what He started.
Victory is ours!
If you enjoyed this post so far, allow us to drop a groovy track by Nigerian gospel singer, Eben.
Enjoy…