SUCCESS
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us see your miracles again; let our children see your glory at work. And may the lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes make our efforts successful.(Psalm90:12,15-17)
Success is word that has a concise definition, but has to allow for individual interpretation. One person may see themselves as successful, while someone looking on may see them as a failure. On the other hand, a person may look at another and consider them a success while the person feels like a failure. Solomon with all of his wisdom and wealth tried everything, and by most standards of the world was successful at all he did. Yet, his final verdict was that all was foolishness without God.
Would it be safe to say then, that the only true success comes from God, through faith in God, and service to God? To the natural mind this is foolishness, but the spirit bares witness that this is truth.
Only God can teach us to make the most of our time. Only God can give true wisdom, no matter what the subject. Only God can give gladness in proportion to former misery. Only He knows just how miserable a person has been. Only God can make the present and future good enough to wipe out the previous evil. Only God can perform miracles and allow our children to see His glory at work. It is God’s approval we need. Jesus said that He did not need mans approval, after all He knew what man’s heart was like.
As for successful efforts. Who, more than a father, wants a child to succeed? No one! If we as earthly fathers want our children to be successful and do well, how much more does the heavenly Father want this?
If we allow God to give us wisdom so that we make all of our efforts to bring Him glory, we can be sure that He will make all of our efforts successful. Then we will not only appear successful, but we will feel successful as well.
Success can come in many forms. If we maintain our joy in the midst of a trial. we are a success, and God will reward that faithfulness. Success in our faith life, will run over into our physical life, for the just shall live by faith.
Let God set the standard that we measure success by. And may the Lord make all our efforts successful! Yes, make all our efforts successful!