Have you ever thought about what constitutes success? When you think about the word, what comes to mind?

Courtesy of Creative Commons

When I think about it, I think about a great career, making loads of money, mansions, yachts, fancy cars, nice clothes and exotic vacations.

My definition of success matches what this world and media have indoctrinated me with.

However, this is the wrong definition of success.

Success holds different meanings to different people. What success might mean for one person may not mean for the next.

As a Christ follower, we are not to define success the way the world does. We are not to chase after the temporal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

What is the use of chasing after something that won’t last or give you fulfillment?

I know loads of people who have a ton of money and by the world’s standard are successful. But if truth be told, they are the most miserable people walking the face of this earth.

Why? Because God never meant for us to be chasing after idols. He made us to chase after Him. He created us to worship Him and have intimacy with Him.

Believe me, it’s not easy living in a world where our senses are bombarded daily by advertisements, social media, music, television and movies.

Someone is always selling us something. There is this underlying subliminal message repeating itself.  Buy this and you will be happy. Go here and it will change your life. Do this and you will be famous. Follow this strategy and you will be successful? Drink this or eat that, see this or do that… get the point?

We are constantly driven, chasing after that “next” thing which we “think” will make us happy, fulfilled or successful.

But it’s all a lie, we are just chasing after wind.

Jesus is the only one who can give us joy. He is the only one who can deeply satisfy us. He is the only one who can fill that void. He is the only one who can complete us.

When we have Him and live for Him, we are a success. It’s as simple as that.

Today my prayer is you will see the futility of chasing after things which are temporal and not eternal. May the Lord open the eyes of your heart to see Him and may you sense His profound love for you. His love is the only thing that can truly satisfy you.

What do you define success as? What does success look like to you?