Successful in the Eyes of Jesus

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.~Philippians 2:1-4 NLT


Whenever a new technological gadget comes on the market, we see long lines of people waiting long hours and even days, right before the item becomes available, to be the first one in line when the storefront doors open to purchase it. The media shows pictures of make-shift tents that have been pitched for shelter as consumers endure all weather conditions to do whatever it takes to be at the front of the line. The hours and days pass waiting to be first. The next step for most that purchase the gadget, is to show everyone what they have and others yet do not.  Often times, it is only a matter of days before the gadget is plentiful for anyone to purchase, but something deep inside drives this want to have it first.


Children in their early years catch on very quickly to the fact that being first or the winner comes with rewards. Sometimes I worry that children are so focused on being first and/or the best that whether they are participating in sports, the arts, or academics that they no longer have the time or energy to truly develop their passions that dwell within their hearts. The children are driven by the culture we live in to be the best in everything they do. As the childhood years pass by, many children find themselves scheduled from morning until night with no free time to just enjoy being a child. At the end of the day, many children lay exhausted from trying to fit so much in so little time.


As adults, the culture spawns the idea that the more you have, the more successful you are. The more prominent you are in the community propagates an understanding that you have earned and achieved a higher status than most. Often times the home a person lives in or the car they drive subconsciously spells out s-u-c-c-e-s-s-f-u-l to the onlooker and possibly to the one living within that life as well.  


As Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, he was encouraging a different lifestyle. He reminded us that Christ asks us to take the focus away from ourselves and our needs to look beyond ourselves to make a difference in the lives of others. One interesting part of this passage in this translation relates this message: "Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose."  We are asked to be humble, as we care for others with the time and resources that each of us has in our own unique lives. The one main point I believe he was trying to reveal in this passage is to live our lives as a servant to God. It's as if he wanted us to ask this question of ourselves as we start each day, "What can I do to better serve our Lord and Savior today?" 


As the culture encourages us to be successful, Jesus encourages us to follow Him and His teachings. His encouragement sends a different message than what our culture expects from us.  He challenges us to think outside ourselves rather than focused on ourselves. Following Him entails giving away more rather than wanting more. It's about getting in touch with the passion that has been instilled within each of us because we are told in the Bible that we have each been given individual gifts to share. As each day draws to a close, success might be described as knowing that throughout the day, our hearts were drawn to the Love of Jesus through our thoughts, prayers, and actions. 


And, yes, the rewards are great as we grow closer to Jesus. Standing in long lines to have what is the newest gadget, performing at an excellent level, or achieving cultural success is not a prerequisite to these rewards. When the worldly demands are too overwhelming, we can find refuge in Jesus.We come to learn that we are loved unconditionally for who we are, flaws and all. This is an eternal love that blankets us through all the storms of life. We are all rich when we live our lives with the common purpose to serve others through the Love of Jesus rather than centering our lives around ourselves.  In some ways, we become successful in the eyes of Jesus when we strive to achieve a servant lifestyle.


Let us pray,


Father of Purpose,
Help us to trust that living our lives for the common purpose to resonate the Love you have for each of us, is a life filled with contentment and success. Guide us to be humble when serving others and remind us that there is no greater reward than to know we are Your child. 
Amen.