George Barnard Shaw said, "There are two sources of unhappiness in

life. One is not getting what you want; the other is getting it." America

is obsessed with success. We work hard to get what we want. From the early

days of our youth, we are encouraged to compete to be number one, whether

it's winning the spelling bee or ranking at the top of our graduating

class. Setting our minds on a goal and driving until we reach that goal makes

us a success, we think. Success is a destination.

Or, in our consumer-minded society, we think success is accumulation. He

who has the most toys wins. We kill ourselves to make six figures, to climb

the ladder to more power and influence, and to accumulate more than the next

guy. Success is measured by possessions.

Three businessmen were comparing ideas on what they thought it meant to

be successful. "I'd say I had arrived," said the first, "if

I were summoned to the White House for a private, personal meeting with the

president of the United States."

"To me," said the second man, "success would mean meeting

with the president in the oval office, having the hot line ring during our

talk, and watching the president ignore it."

The third said, "I think you're a success if you're privately

consulting with the president, the hot line rings, he picks it up, and says, 'it's

for you.'"

How do you define success? How does God define success? The Bible defines

success in two ways that are much different than America's definition

of success. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 4:1 and 2, "Let a man so consider

us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover,

it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

Paul sees himself as Christ's subordinate to Christ, a servant, and

he sees himself as a steward, one who is entrusted to manage something valuable

for someone else. He says stewards must be found faithful. How do you measure

faithfulness? In church life, is faithfulness just showing up and being there?

Faithfulness is demonstrated by loyalty and dedication to the Lord, by obedience

to the Lord, and by perseverance. Faithful servants put God first and show

their total dedication by trusting and obeying God throughout the entire

course of their life.

The Bible also says success is measure by fruitfulness. Not only must we

be faithful, but also we must allow God to produce fruit in our lives. The

Bible refers to at least three kinds of fruit in our lives.

First is the fruit of Christian character. According to Galatians 5:22-23,

our lives should be characterized by love, joy, long-suffering, longsuffering,

kindnesss, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Second is the fruit of Christian conduct. Right character results in right

conduct. Not only must we look like Jesus; we must act like Jesus. We constantly

ask ourselves, "what would Jesus do in this situation? How would Jesus

respond in these circumstances?"

Third is the fruit of converts. God wants us to take as many people with

us to heaven as possible.

How are you doing with your faithfulness? How are you doing with your fruit-bearing?

God's picture of success is different than the world's idea of

success.