“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” – G.K. Chesterton
Where this is listed last on the 12 Fundamentals of Success, it is in fact the most important. Without a reverence for God and a relationship with Jesus Christ, I would say all the others are close to impossible to achieve. Can a person live right and have good morals without knowing God? Yes, it is done, however I do not believe one can be truly successful without it. If God created us to fulfill a purpose in this world, how can we do that without knowing the creator? After all, the first and foremost purpose of all mankind is to know God. As stated in the Westminster Catechism: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
SPIRITUAL TRUTH
In any study of success you will always find a spiritual component. Some call it God or a higher force or they just leave it up to the individual to decide. I would be untruthful and do you a great injustice if I did that. You see, I know that there is only one God and creator of all Who’s only Son, Jesus Christ, came to die for your sins and mine on a cross. There is no way to God except by Him. You may think that as narrow, and it is, but it is truth and to tell you any less just so you do not feel offended would be to lie.
GROWING IN GRACE
Success-Minded People know that it is one thing to know of God and another to have a relationship with Him. The desire of the Success-Minded Person is to be like Christ. He alone is our perfect example of good and right living. Theology Professor Sinclair B. Ferguson said “There is nothing more important to learn about Christian growth than this: Growing in grace means becoming like Christ.” We will not make it to perfection in this life but we can progress toward it.
PURPOSE
Success-Minded People realize that they were created for a purpose and they strive to be faithful to that purpose and the God who gave it to them. A.B. Simpson said “God means every Christian to be effective, to make a difference in the actual records and results of Christian work. God put each of us here to be a power. There is not one of us but is an essential wheel of the machinery and can accomplish all that God calls us to do.” There is great comfort and confidence in knowing that the God of the universe is on your side, cares for you personally and desires for you to succeed.
HIS I CHOOSE TO BE
Success-Minded People do not see themselves better than anyone else. They are different in that they are forgiven their sins and bound for an eternal home, but they are not more loved or superior to others. A relationship with Christ is very humbling. No one knows better than you do how deeply you have sinned and how unworthy you are of forgiveness. But it is out of God’s love for us that He extends mercy and grace. I am so grateful for the kindness of God toward me. I would give all I have and am just to know Christ. As I have shared with you before, the theme of my life is “I am His and His I choose to be.”
© 2011 John Patrick Hickey
