I root for people. We give our best; at least we take a stab at it. Driven by possibilities galore, it is commendable that we live in a populace of ambition and drive. Success is a worthy goal.
I caution, however, that success can be misused as well as abused if not approached from the spiritual base. Spiritual base? Meaning?
Jesus fundamentally reverses life's rules. To keep we are to give away. To live we are to die. The backwardness of true success is certainly challenging. Yet, we must take note. Otherwise, eventual frustration and disappointment loom.
I think it is assumed by most in our earlier years that to be successful one must climb the ladder of accomplishment coupled with promotion. While this route will satisfy several, there is yet another ladder which seems to bear God's authentic fruit.
This particular ladder is approached by His servants who climb down; not up.
It was the Samaritan who climbed down into the ditch of rescue. It was the Apostle Paul who found success in prison cells. It was Jesus who, also, was a prisoner soon executed.
My point is that success isn't a matter of wearing a three-piece suit and driving a Rolls. If God blesses you with such....terrific. For most of us, success will be based upon the climbing of the social ladder downward where the lonely, the needy, the depressed, and the abused are gathered without a clue as to how to negotiate another day.
We are to be encouraged about our ladder and the downward climb. Loss isn't unsuccessful. It is leading us to be with others who need us. Failure isn't useless. This is a step down to experience how others feel who have no hope.
We are consistently advantaged by such a direction which, at one time, we would have assumed a worse-case scenario. This downward trek finds a host of valuable people waiting for rescue by someone(s) who understands (and experiences) their personal demise.
Jesus did it. He came down. We are called to follow his path.
It is God who will do the lifting up.
No comments:
Post a Comment