“God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible – what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” – A.W. Tozer
We in 21st Century America do not really understand what it was like to serve a king. We think of kings the same as we do dictators who are selfish, cruel and demanding. Where it is true that some kings were and are like this (we have had presidents like this too), it is not true of all. My point is not to reminisce of days gone by or to be romantic about the joys of having a king. It is more to look at what it meant to serve a king.
In bygone days, the king was served with respect and deep loyalty. Kings were honored not only by how you addressed them and acted in their presents but also by how you live. In the days of knighthood, the knight knew that his life represented the king in all he did. If he was an honorable man, it brought honor to his king. If he was dishonorable and lacked integrity, he dishonored the king. As a servant of the king, your behavior was always in check and your loyalty was focused.
Success-Minded People sometimes forget this point when we think of our service to God. Scripture refers to Christ as our King. We may understand what that means as far as His role in our life, but what about our role as His servants? How should we behave? Do we bring honor to Him by our life? Are we loyal and trustworthy in our service to the one true King? These are questions the Success-Minded Person should be able to answer.
I know that we all will say we fall short in bringing true honor to God. We make mistakes and stumble along the way. However, He knows this and helps us to be the best we can be. John Newton, the former slave trader turned Christian and the writer of the well-known hymn Amazing Grace said, “We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage.” We must live in such a way that all we do, say and are brings honor to our King.
One of the best ways to honor our King is in our attitude. How do you treat others? What are you like when no one is looking? St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or chilling look.” One of the most effective ways to serve God and bless others is the easiest and least expensive to do – just smile. We have much to be happy about and to be thankful for. A happy heart is worth more than all the riches in the world.
Success-Minded People love God, add value to others and are happy. 
Remember that our greatest service to God is in how we serve each others. Success-Minded People live by the same thinking that Albert Einstein had when he said, “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”
© 2012 John Patrick Hickey
