Success Is From The Lord

I am not a huge baseball fan, however, this player’s statement seemed profound enough to repeat. On August 6th, 2002, Tim Salmon had a big day at the plate on Tuesday. The Anaheim Angels right fielder had a grand slam and drove in five runs in an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Tim told Sports Spectrum that a certain Scripture had given him inspiration. He stated, “I came across a verse recently: Proverbs 21:31, “Horses are made ready for battle, but the victory rests in the hands of the Lord.” That verse is so true; it makes so much sense to me. I will do what I have always done, I will go out there and do everything I can to prepare for the game, and you know what? I am just doing what the Lord has called me to do. If success is meant to be, it will be there for me. If not, well, I’m just doing what the Lord has called me to do.”

This story is a great reminder that we cannot measure our success by what we see, it is measured by our ability to fulfill what we are called of God to do. As in all sports, athletes train hard, play harder, and still there is only one winner to any given game. Take the National Football League for example. The teams that get to the playoffs are all excellent teams and have strengths in their own rights as do each player, however, only two teams make it to the Super Bowl, but only one of these phenomenal teams will get the trophies and the rings to herald their success. The baseball player, Tim Salmon had played enough and come to realize that he just needed to do his best, prepare himself the best he could and leave the rest up to the Lord. There have been many who have come to this realization, which only speaks to their inner strength, faith and understanding that there is more at work in our lives than just a game or in this case would be their jobs.

Abraham Lincoln the sixteenth president of the United States once said, “Without God I cannot succeed. With God I cannot fail.” Why do I point out the fact that most elementary or middle schoolers would know that he was the sixteenth president? Because this means that there were fifteen before him, and we know there were many after him, which he knew there would be. He had also come to the realization that he had to rely upon the Lord. Thirty presidents later, we have come so far from that concept, and we could find ourselves in trouble as a nation because of it. We must return to the idea that success is from the Lord and him only. You may be the best politician, doctor, lawyer and have gone to the best schools that money could buy and have decades of experience, however, Psalm 127:1 reminds us, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.”

God expects us to do all the preparation that is necessary to be victorious with our endeavors. It is always better to be over prepared than under prepared for your tasks. 2 Timothy 2:15 admonishes,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  However, does this mean that the great orator, preacher, or teacher will always see people fill the alter after their eloquent message every Sunday morning or evening? No, we are each only one part of the Kingdom of God. Paul in the New Testament realized this when he said of the success of the churches in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

God wants us to obey Him regardless of whether victory seems forthcoming or likely. Joseph was not given visible victory until eighteen years had elapsed after his brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph was just a kid when he began to dream, a teenager, not yet respected among his family, friends and peers. He probably did not manage his calling, his dreams, and visions in a completely correct manner, however, he had a heart toward God and was full of zeal. He continued to trust God implicitly despite the pit of despair, being sold into slavery, being lied about, being thrown into jail, and forgotten and even through his years of success and rising fame in Potiphar’s house. Yes, the latter is equally as important as the awful things we listed afore. Fame can often be the point where people stop trusting, but Joseph did not. He maintained his steadfast trust in God and held on to his dream. His preparation for greatness paid off. He did not know how or when God was going to fulfill his dream, but he knew that God would.

God measures success by His standards not by human measures. What some people might think of as successful may be phony from God’s eyes. Our goal should be to finish well in the eyes of the Lord not men. Rudyard Kipling said, “Treat human success for what it is. Fleeting and deceitful.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 states, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  We must use Jesus, his word and his life as the standard or the measuring stick of how to conduct ourselves and how to achieve success and as to what that really means. A tailor knows that if they want to make the same dress ten times, in the same style, cut and length, in assorted colors or textiles, they must use the same pattern that they used for the first one on all of them. They cannot measure the second by the first dress, the third by the second, so on and so forth. Doing it that way, they may end up with a similar dress, but it will be bigger or smaller, longer, or shorter. They will fail in the commission that they have been paid to deliver. You have heard the saying, “If it’s worth doing it’s worth doing right!”  Sure, you could do just enough for the Lord to get by in your life but will anyone behind you be able to distinguish what pattern you used?

The game ‘Telephone’ works in a comparable way. No one except the first person is listening to the original messenger and the message is then passed down the line. Each person receives a distorted message than the one before them, because they pass along what they thought they heard, with the added nuance of what the last one thought they heard. We must keep in the word of God to keep the message and our instructions for daily living and success clear. Measure and interpret the Word by the word. If validates and explains itself. If you are not sure of what a messenger, pastor, friend, or neighbor is telling you regarding your Christian walk with the Lord, do not just ignore that worried feeling. Get into the word to find out what it says on the subject. It is the blueprint, the standard, the pattern, the message, and the final authority by which we should live.

We often feel inadequate, especially when we get our eyes onto others and do not stay focused on the calling of success that God has given us individually. Not everyone is an athlete, a firefighter, a nurse, or a candlestick maker. Prepare yourself daily with your personal dreams, visions and calling in mind, not those of others. Do not let glitches along the way discourage you. Keep focused on the success that the Lord has in store for you. If a baker stopped baking because their first loaf of bread did not rise, we would go hungry, if a builder stopped building the first time they hit their thumb with a hammer, we would be cold with no shelter, and if a seamstress stopped sewing the first time the bobbin got tangled, we would not be clothed. If we stop pursuing our calling what will the world be missing? The Lord has given us all a calling and those who he calls he equips. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  The disciples were amazed at what Jesus was teaching them about what they would contribute to the kingdom of God. Their amazement also showed their skepticism, fear, and doubt. They had never seen these things before. Matthew 19:26 states, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”  This still holds true. Go out today and have a successful day as in the eyes of the Lord not men. Not for trophies, rings, or recognition but to please the one who has called us. This is success.