Defining Success In the Christian Life

What does a successful Christian life look like? I’ve been thinking about that lately. I think I’ve decided it’s one I need to be asking. After all, I’m asking it of myself as a husband, pastor, and writer. I should be striving towards success in all I do and am.

I think the reason why I’ve been hesitant to explore it too much is that I’m afraid that if I seriously consider the implications of the answer I might find, I’ll have to live a life of less. Sometimes, the Christian life can feel like a life of less. And to be successful at it, to live it in it’s fullest, would really be a life of less.

I’m afraid that to be “successful” as a Christian disciple will mean less:

Money in my pocketNotoriety for my achievementsTime for myselfShiny stuff in my homeFunLaughsFreedom

And the truth is, it is. Christ calls us, in many ways, to a life of less.

But, it’s also a life of so much more.

A Life of More

To be a Christian is actually a life of more than you could ever imagine. I need to keep that in mind. For everything you might lose as you follow Jesus, your return is greater.

To be a Christian is to live a life of more:

Family. You now have one that stretches across the world and throughout historyPeaceJoy (and one that lasts at that)Hope for the futureDepth in relationshipsKindness towards your neighborTrust in God’s goodnessSecurity for tomorrowFreedom. True freedomForgiveness than you deserveLife than you ever thought possibleLove than you’ve ever experienced



Less of Me, More of God

A successful Christian life is a life less of/for/about me. But, it’s also a life more of/for/about Jesus. And what you find in Jesus is so much more than you will ever find in yourself.

The beautiful thing about it is that success as a Christian doesn’t come to me like success does in my career, as a writer, or even as a husband in many ways. In every other realm of life I am constantly working to be sucessful, constantly trying to convince myself and others that I am, in fact, a success.

But, success from Christ is a pure, 100% gift. I have it. I am it. Right now. Today, I have a life of more. Today, because of Jesus, I am a success.

If you’ve liked what you’ve read, check out either of my two little books on Amazon: Growing Up and God’s Story // Your Story

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