Which Finish Line?

Read

Matthew 16:25–27 (KJV) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

What it is speaking to me:

Success is a moving target because success always depends on the goal we predefine. In sports, it’s easy to measure: the team with the higher score wins; in a race, the first to cross the finish line; in wrestling, the first to pin an opponent. Sports are simple, and perhaps that’s why people love them. There’s clear success and clear failure.

But the world often tries to define success using the same easy metrics: money, prestige, or possessions. Like sports, these measurements are visible, simple, and honestly as equally shallow.

Life, however, isn’t that clear-cut. Success isn’t always measurable or obvious. Jesus offers a different standard, a completely different way to think about success, and it has very little to do with what the world values. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

How does the Christian measure success? It is clear that if we have gained the whole world we have profited nothing. But if our soul is secure we have profited everything. When we choose to follow Jesus, success stops looking like winning in the world's eyes, but the Father sees us as winners. It’s measured not in what we achieve in the natural , but in how closely we walk with Him and achieve in the supernatural.

It isn’t wrong to desire success, we all wish to be successful. But we should pause to ask whether we’re measuring success by the standard of our Heavenly Father. Because we gain nothing by sprinting toward a finish line where God isn’t waiting.

What is it saying to you?

What is your definition of a “successful day,” excluding worldly measures?

How would you define it?

What are we going to do about it?

Now go live that day today.