Men

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Success is not something that is talked a lot about among Christians. I believe the reason for this is because too many people associate it with money, wealth, and material possessions. Some people believe that Christians should not pursue this kind of life. What many people fail to see, however, is that success and prosperity are not the same. Even though there is nothing wrong with Christians being wealthy and prosperous,(and I am not teaching prosperity theology here), it is quite possible, and I believe within God's will, for a person to pursue success without having the prosperity to go with it. Consider the following definitions of success.

Success is always moving ahead.

*Moving ahead at pursuing better opportunities.

*Moving ahead at experiencing "mental breakthroughs" that help you think more correctly about God, others and yourself.

*Moving ahead at dumping your past emotional baggage.

*Moving ahead at getting out of whatever your "emotional pit" is, and staying out.

*Moving ahead at seeing your "stuck" situations begin to budge, through God's grace and power.

*Moving ahead when you come to hurdles in your life.

*Moving ahead by deciding to make the most of whatever situations you are in, no matter how adverse.

*Moving ahead at making your life count in the lives of other people, and to use your hurts to help others heal.

It should be obvious that these definitions have nothing to do with money or wealth, and yet they all would help in making better individuals, and fulfilling one's potential and God-given design.

Pursue a life of success. To do anything less is to short change yourself, your family, and the hurting world around you. Let me ask 2 personal questions: Have you ever set a measurable goal for accomplishing something related to your passion, or to help other people in advancing God's Kingdom? Have you ever developed a plan for becoming more and more the kind of person God wants you to become?

Commit yourself to a mind-set of personal growth and improvement, and becoming goal-oriented. There are 3 types of growth: spiritual maturity, emotional development, and practical day-to-day self improvement. All three are related to success.

The bottom line, is to commit to a plan that will propel you forward continually in every area of your life. You may be thinking that you are happy the way you are, and you do not see any need to do better. Well, everyone has some area in life that can use improvement. I used to watch a lot of television but I replaced that with reading books. I am a better person for it.

Do you want to become more of what God desires you to be? It won't just happen. You need to have a plan. It may not make you prosperous, but it will make you successful.

(This article is an excerpt from my second book I am writing, entitled, FROM MY HEART TO YOURS: MY LEGACY TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHRISTIAN MEN.) Copyright 2010

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