The Secret to my Success

What defines success in your life? Is it how many toys(cars, guitars, clothes, ipods, etc...)you have? Is it your job, finances, status? Or is it making it through life with no cheating, no fighting, no problems? Marriage, kids, friends do they make a person a great success? How about a person who works so hard all their life, provides for their family, takes care of those in need and has no debt, retires and lives the rest of their life in a retirement community?

Here is another scenario; a person works hard all their life and doesn't ever make it to that really nice neighborhood, gets jumped ever other day on their way to work, gets made of because of their looks, clothes, hair cut. They never seem to get ahead, but perseveres through it. Everyone rips them off and they don't even know it. They try and try to get people to like them and it is no use. But they are content. They love God, they love their family, they love their community. They go out of their way even doing small jobs and chores around the neighborhood that no one knows about. They like being in the back ground. What if also they had an incurable decease and no health care to help pay all the medical bills. But through all of this, they are so filled with joy. They are totally satisfied. Does that sound like success to you?

I am not saying that having things are bad, but what I am saying is, we have such a high standard for success in America, sometimes I think that we have forgotten to enjoy the little things. The 99 cent menu, the tiny $20-$50 dollar check we get in the mail, getting a 50 cent raise. We are sometimes all too focused on the future that we forget to live in the present. It is easy to fall into this. Again, I am not saying that making a big check is bad, I am just saying, it has become our Idol, our God. We worship money if we are not careful.

Success by our definition as humans has made us selfish. I myself am trying to change this about myself. I am not saying that we should get lazy and let things go, but I am not going to live my life chasing this "American Dream" when my mission on this world as a Christian is to die. Die to myself. Becoming meek, selfless, caring, loving, compassionate, humble, content and giving. Of my heart, my time, my MONEY, my things, my house, my life. What would it look like if the Church, the World, would become like Christ. What if we all gave up on being all about OURSELVES and actually poured out all of this upon each other? I may not be a success to the World, but I feel I am. Not because I have reached a goal. This is not my life. It is not my money, it is not my car, it is not my house. It is all Gods. The God. I know not many will read this, but I felt this was on my heart. I pray that it will speak to everyone. That it will speak to me. That it will speak.