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God’s Keys to Success
Success, something everyone desires but only a select few seem to attain. Thousands of books, motivational speeches, and even magazines are focused on helping us to break through the barriers to success. Gurus of various kinds promise success in different spheres of our lives if we follow the wisdom they have to impart. But what is success in God’s eyes? Contrary to worldly success, focused on the material and the external, godly success is about living fully for God, setting Him first in all we do.” According to this standard, to be successful we must remember that God is the giver of all things, and we should use all we have to carry out His work. Three key resources which we can employ to fulfill God’s purposes for us are time, talent and treasure.
The first of these, time, is an often overlooked and easily squandered gift from God. However, the reality is that our days on this earth are numbered. Thus we must always consider, “in light of eternity, how important are some of the things on which I spend my time?” This sobering thought will lead us to revisit how we spend our days. Three tips for managing our time more effectively are: (a) tracking and recording where our time actually goes; (b) analyzing which activities are essential and which activities could be discarded or delegated; and (c) creating a daily schedule that is more reflective of our priorities. Most important, Psalm 90:12 points to God as our biggest support in this venture: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”(NIV).* Constant communion with God through prayer and the reading of His Word will give us the wisdom to better use the time He’s given us.
God has also given us talents with which to fulfill the plan He has for all of our lives (see Jeremiah 29:11). These talents will guide us toward our calling/work—both paid and unpaid—that God calls us to for the benefit of our neighbors, both inside and outside of the church. The discovery of our calling is a lifelong, but not impossible, process, with the following principles to guide us: (1) Look at your gifts, passions, and personality; (2) Look out at the needs of the world; and (3) Look up at God. Whether we have one talent or 10, God expects us to use our gifts to further His kingdom through ministry, and to carry out His specific will for us on earth (see Matthew 25:14-30). As we use our talents for Him, He will multiply and strengthen them. In Christ’s Object Lessons, page 360, Ellen White stated: “However small your talent, God has a place for it. That one talent, wisely used, will accomplish its appointed work. By faithfulness in little duties, we are to work on the place of addition, and God will work for us on the plan of multiplication. These littles will become the most precious influences in His work.”
The last resource that we must surrender to God is our treasure. Getting rich is the preoccupation of many people. However, as God asks us to live counterculturally, our focus should be less on increasing our living standards and more on increasing our giving standards. Like the widow with the two mites (see Mark 12:41-44), we must give freely and generously. Even in these times of economic struggle there are several reasons to return to God our tithe and give our offerings. These actions will enable us to express our gratitude for all that God has done for us, to be content with what we have, to experience the joy inherent in serving God and our fellow man in this way, to work harder, and to manage our money wisely through economy, self-denial, and simplicity. When we choose to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven rather than earth (see Matthew 6:19-21), we will experience the abundant, contented life that God intended for us.
Although this life and the life to come seem worlds apart, God cares about what we’re doing right now with what we have. At the end of time God will ask, “What have you done with what I’ve given you? How have you spent your time, talent, and treasure? Did you spend your time on godly pursuits? Did you use the gifts I gave you to better society and to spread the gospel? Did you return a faithful tithe and give freewill offerings?” If God sees that He can trust us with worldly resources, when this world passes away we will hear Him proudly say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21, NIV).
CHRISTELLE AGBOKA writes from Kingston, Ontario, and enjoys reading, writing, and learning languages.
*Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
References
Watts, D. E. Being Your Best: A Woman’s Guide to Personal Excellence. Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1995.
White, E. G. Messages to Young People. Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2002.
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=3402.
http://theagorasg.blogspot.com/2009/03/discover-your-calling.html.
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