Measuring Success

How do you measure success? By weights and measures? By amounts or by depth? The “how many” and the “not yet”? Recently I again read the opening of John chapter seven. Jesus is addressed by is brothers to go to the Feast of Tabernacles and to make Himself public so all could get to know Him and witness His miracles.

They were trying to measure His success by the standards of men. They were trying to persuade Him to go “public” so he could be more successful! The intent of his brothers was not a pure one! It was an opportunity for them to become His agent or manager. Comparatively to the “agents” of this day who mange the charismatic and not so charismatic “superstars”. The idea is not to promote the image but to build on the image for business reasons.

In my earlier years of church work I had the opportunity to meet agents, professional letter writers and such. Their goal was to build on the person’s charisma so the income would be great. I will not mention any names nor the evangelists and spiritual personalities that were bought by these impure business motives. What is amazing though is that these agents did not even believe in the message or it application. What they believed in was the business it produced by the sizable crowds that were gathered.

What an amazing statement that His brothers spoke: For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (John 7:4 ESV)

They did not even believe in Him! (John 7:5) His own brothers were looking to promote Him. Today we see the same aspirations of people trying to promote for selfish reasons.  His response was absolutely pointed at their actions: “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” (John 7:6-8) Again, He exploits their motives and stays where He can be successful in the Father’s eyes. Jesus does go up after them, not allowing them to know that He was there! He goes up privately not publicly.

Then in the midst of the Feat of Tabernacles He begins to preach the Word with depth and wisdom. When they question His anointing He states: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (John 7:16-18)

There it is, success! God is the agent of success. Through obedience to His will and working under the authority of Him, The Father, success is not ridiculed but noticed and applied. Success is measured through obedience. Don’t judge success by appearance., but judge success with righteous judgement.

Jesus is stating I do not need men to be my agent. The world hates me because I call them out of their falsities into the truth of my Father. The Father is where glory is given. Jesus made His way to the feast without an agent and was obedient to the procedure of God’s will. Now that is how you measure success.

Take time this week to define success in your life. Pray and ask the Father to give you success through His will in your life. Stay away from promoters and agents that desire only to make God’s business their business.

Dennis

All scripture in this blog is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.