In a recent episode we got a little off topic but became an awesome conversation about what SUCCESS looks like!+
Have you ever paused to measure the true weight of success? If you're wrestling with the definition of success, particularly from a Christian perspective, this episode is a beacon for those seeking clarity. We wade through the muddy waters of worldly accolades versus the divine fulfillment that comes from following Jesus Christ's example of compassion and service. Drawing from powerful Biblical narratives, we contrast the lure of material prosperity with the call to care for the less fortunate, and ponder how aligning our pursuits with God's will reshapes our understanding of true achievement.
Our conversation takes an unexpected turn with the tale of a simple fisherman, a story that deftly challenges society's conventional success metrics and champions the virtues of contentment and simplicity. We share personal reflections on the uses of wealth and the idea that true success in God's eyes looks strikingly different from the world's view. This thoughtful discussion invites you to reassess your goals and consider whether your life's direction is pointing towards temporal treasures or eternal values. As we explore these themes, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the profound question: what does it really mean to be successful, both in life and in faith?
Speaker 1:
brings me to like just that whole conversation brings me to the idea. I had this conversation with somebody else like how do you define success? What is success? What does that look like, especially for a Christ follower?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I think there's two different. Yeah, look what is success in the eyes of God and then within the concept of the Christian faith, and then what does success look like within our flesh? You know, the world says you need to have a nice car, you need to have a job, you need to Work your whole life, make money so that then you can sit on a beach and Do whatever you want. But there are so many examples in the Bible where people have nothing and all they're doing is spreading the gospel or they're taking care of missionaries or doing whatever they're doing. But that's definitely the call it the prosperity gospel Message and that Christians should never be in poverty, and that's just. I don't understand that one. There are verses you can take out of context that say a Christian should be, but there's so many examples throughout the whole scripture where People have nothing.
Speaker 1:
Well, there's also I mean I guess you say that I don't know where it's at, but it's red letters, like Jesus tells you you're blessed to be poor. Yeah, you To be a rich fool.
Speaker 2:
Target for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.
Speaker 2:
Yeah and so, to Jesus and to God, that that success to me, when I read the Bible, looks more like Taking care of orphans and widows, doing those things that he's called us to do. You're not gonna get rich off taking care of orphans and widows. That's not the point You're giving, and so I think that looks different. And so I think now in 2024, living in the world that we do, there has to be some kind of balance there. But when God does bless us with Resources, what do you use those resources?
Speaker 1:
I think success then is measured differently.
Speaker 2:
Think success is measured differently, because, hey, to what much is given, much is Required.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I think that I really like that. You recently just shared a story I think this fits of a fisherman.
Speaker 1:
Yeah and if fishermen's out fishing for his Daily food and another guy approaches him is like, why you doing this kind of like so I can eat? It's like, why don't you do this all day long? And then you could eat and sell it and make money. And the fisherman was like why would I do that? The guy's like well, you would, you would make money and then you could take that money and you could hire another Fisherman and then he would catch fish and then you would sell those fish and then you could get a bigger boat and then you could take that money, you could buy a processing plant and you then you could take that money and the there were the fishermen is like why, why? Why would I do all that? And the guy was like well, so you can sell it, and then you'd have millions of dollars. He's like why would I do that?
Speaker 2:
Well, so you could sit at home and see with your family and sit on a beach and catch a Fish for your family and hang out with them all day and the fishermen is like I'm already doing that. Yeah.
Speaker 1:
I think sometimes that concept of success we take it, we get so hyper focused on it that we lose the concept of what true success is, even with our own families, and we should be looking for success with God in us and not Outside of that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I think contentment is is the biggest word out of that and out of success. So, if we can be content with what God's given us and there's times he's gonna give us more, he's gonna allow us to do more things, but, like it says here in second-test Williams, if it what it needs to do, though, is it needs to point towards the Lord, and if it doesn't, then what's the point? Yeah, because I mean we're all gonna die. Most, we should all die once the rapture happens. Takes this away on this glory, marvelous, flaming vengeance day when God Jesus comes back. Unless that happens in our lifetime, we're all gonna die. Can't take any of it with you. There's no record anywhere in the Bible that we can take it with us that are somehow we can convert.
Speaker 2:
US dollars into holy dollars. So I think the contentment there and then can continue into point it back towards Jesus, and I think that can be rewarded. Not, it's not the reason we do it, but I think God does reward that. Hey, you've been faithful, I'm gonna give you more. You've been faithful, I'm gonna allow you to do this. Now, when we get the big head and we become bribal and say this is because of me, there's probably truth to God saying alright, well, you're not getting it anymore. Yeah, maybe we need another trials. We need to allow you to go through more trials to understand this.
Speaker 1:
Now I like that and I think you can. You can look at the life, of life of Paul as we read it through scriptures. Like he was constantly provided for, like everywhere he went he had everything he needed, but he continued to preach the gospel and share, even in times of being locked up. Yeah like that was some of his best ministry time was when he was in the midst of sitting in a jail cell, he didn't give up on that concept.
Speaker 1:
Yeah and he I would venture to guess he found true, like God's, the only one that can provide true joy and I think that is part of what kept Paul going is in the midst of those struggles he still found true joy, like God, still filled him up and gave him true joy even in the midst of those, because that relationship Paul had with his Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ and the way he shared his testimony. I think that's what will help us the two fish community keep going is to. You got to stay connected with your Holy Spirit, with your brothers and Christ, and we got to encourage each other and continue to try and push one another. But you have to stay within the grasp of Christ in the midst of doing it.