The World's Empty PromisesSample

Success

Do I believe I’m a failure when I make mistakes? When I’m criticized, do I tend to take it personally? Most criticism is just a cowardly form of self-praise, but it devastates us because we’ve confused what we do with who we are. This is the problem with gathering our self-worth externally.  We’re continually filling up our little pool of accomplishments, and then criticism comes along and it wipes us out.

When our identity is based on success, we’re often jealous of others that succeed: “Why did they get that raise; I work harder than they do?” “Why do they get to go on that nice vacation, and I don’t?”

When success is my god, I’m going to get cynical and bitter if I’m not succeeding. I’ll look for others to blame. But Hebrews 12:15 says that we should be careful so no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and Deuteronomy 29:18, 19 says that the root of bitterness comes from following false Gods. When we let someone else hurt us, we are looking to someone else besides God to satisfy us. 

The trouble is that on the way up the ladder of “success”, we don’t feel better.  We just build up more pressure and fear and anxiety and self-doubt. Matthew 16:26 asks us what profit we have if we gain the whole world and forfeit our soul? Or what would we give in return for our soul? If we let anything other than Christ define us – it will grind us down, and we’ll always be on a treadmill of achievement – continually haunted by whether we are doing enough.

We are not our giftedness – God didn’t make a singer, or an accountant, or a preacher, or a lawyer, He made YOU.  Those are just what we do. We are not any more or less valuable to God because of our job title, our tax bracket, our social status. God’s affection for us does not waver even if we lose our job, or are struggling in our family, or make a mistake.  Our value does not decline in His eyes.

Through the Gospel, we root our identity in what has been accomplished for us.  We root our identity in the truth that we are loved right now, we are accepted right now, and we are enough right now because we are beloved children of the Most High God – the King of kings, and Lord of lords.  That identity cannot be shaken, regardless of what happens in our lives! If we root our identity in that, it will destroy the treadmill of achievement and success because our core identity will be rooted in something that does not change.

What is our purpose? “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)

Reflection: Do I compare myself a lot to other people, criticize others in order to feel better about myself, or covet more than celebrate?