The Successful Christian

What does it mean to be successful? Well, that depends on who you ask, I suppose. In our modern society, success is often associated with wealth and status. As part of preparation for a men’s retreat with my church, I read How to be Rich by Andy Stanley. In it, he asserts that most people are rich. They just don’t know it. He goes on to posit one of the best ways to be rich is to be generous in giving. The overall theme of the book involves our appetites for wealth and possessions and how feeding them only makes us hungry for more. Stanley notes that even Christians can get caught up in the melee and soon lose focus. As Christians, we are commanded to be set apart from the world. Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

            With the constant bombardment of advertisements, the pressure to keep up with the Jones, and the world’s standard dangling in our faces, how should Christians measure success? This is not a new question. The disciples asked themselves this question and even argued about it. “But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest” (Mark 9:34). The Greek word for greatness used in this verse is meizon, which is the comparative form of megas – ‘great.’ In other words, the disciples weren’t debating who was great among them. They were debating who, by comparison, was the greatest. In effect they had made the assumption they were of equal [great] status and were thus comparing themselves to one another. The details of that comparison are not provided. However, we can imagine they likely chronicled their time with Jesus, who had been with him the longest, who knew him better, which one had [seemingly] done more for the ministry. Their debate is not unlike those that transpire in churches today. If we are honest, we quietly note who participates in church activities and who doesn’t. We make our silent comparison, perhaps believing we are better Christians for the effort.

            Falling into this trap is part of human nature, some might argue. After all, we are born into sin. While there is a modicum of truth to that, it does not presuppose our plight and give us an excuse. Many times throughout the Bible we are instructed not to conform to the world’s standard, to avoid materialism, and to store up treasures in heaven. Jesus gave his disciples the formula for success. Simple and terse, any believer can follow it. But it requires tremendous effort. In Mark 8:34, Jesus said, “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” The first step in becoming a successful Christian is to deny ourselves. No, that doesn’t mean we should give away everything we have and become destitute. It means we should be responsible stewards of what God has provided. As Stanley noted, everything we have belongs to God. The material possessions we enjoy are on loan from him. They are transient just as we are and have no bearing on eternity. Therefore, we must not be consumed with them. The way we do that is by denying ourselves – deny our egos, deny our desires, deny the pull of a worldly society. We must avoid the pitfall the disciples fell into and refrain from comparison. God calls us to serve in his kingdom but in different ways. One way is not necessarily greater than another; it’s just different. God equips believers with what they need to serve in his kingdom. Some have more than others – bigger houses, more prominent careers, different gifts and abilities – yet all are equal members of God’s kingdom just as the disciples were.

            The second part of the formula, and I must state I am using that term loosely, involves stature. In Mark 9: 35 Jesus addressed this issue. “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” This seems a bit paradoxical. It’s akin to saying the winner of a race is the person who comes in last. How can that be when the very concept of a race involves crossing the finish line ahead of everyone else? Well, if we reflect on the disciples’ argument and consider Jesus’ words above, a defining concept of Christian success comes into focus. Yes, in effect, Jesus is saying the winner of the race is the one who comes in last. Having competed in many road races over the years, including a marathon, the congested herd of runners at the starting line soon becomes a series of packs spread out over the course. The faster runners lead the way, while the slower runners find their pace and trudge along. All have the same goal: cross the finish line. Although some runners are faster and complete the course with ease, at every race there a last-place finisher – that one runner who refused to give up, who didn’t care about being last as long as he/she crossed the finish line regardless of time. Isn’t that what Christianity is all about? Paul charged Timothy and us, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). You see, the last runner to cross the finish line isn’t concerned about greatness as measured by those observing the race. Their perspective of greatness is skewed because they associate being first with success. They don’t understand the amount of mental fortitude required to take the next step, and the next, and the next when one’s body is screaming, “stop.” An elite runner can cross the finish line of a marathon in a little more than two hours. Some novices take six hours or more to finish the race, nearly three times as long as the first place runner.

            What Jesus was really saying, I believe, is that to be first, meaning a successful Christian, we must avoid comparing ourselves to not only others, but other Christians specifically. Comparing ourselves to the world is dangerous and causes us to place our hope in riches, not God, as Stanley pointed out. Furthermore, comparison is distracting. If we spend our time assessing ourselves in relationship to others, we miss out on opportunities to serve. We have all been called to serve in God’s kingdom. Our service is disparate and unique. Some will finish ahead of us. That’s okay. We must be content with our place in Christ’s kingdom. For most of us, that’s at the back of the line. The race of Christianity is one in which winning is measured by crossing the finish line regardless of time. It is a race of perseverance. James noted, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”(1:4).  

            The last part of Jesus’ admonition is service. Christians should serve the needs of others – not just the church, mind you, but the needs of those around them. Jesus used the phrase “servant of all.” The word servant comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning an attendant or waiter, someone who runs errands. In effect, Jesus is telling his disciples to be a ‘go-for.’ And here they were arguing about who was the greatest! Imagine the greatest person in Christ’s kingdom being little more than an errand boy here on earth, yet that is exactly what Jesus was telling them. We are to serve God by serving the needs of others. In other words, success in the kingdom of God and as a Christian is the complete opposite of what it means to be successful by the world’s standard. Successful Christians deny themselves. They place the needs of others ahead of their own. Comparisons aren’t made. Unlike the disciples, we are called to be content with our lot in life, knowing we have been placed where we are because that is where God wants us. And if that is where he wants us, he will equip us as needed. It isn’t our business to question God, yet that is exactly what we do when we compare ourselves to others, especially Christians. Successful Christians aren’t concerned with being first. That could mean fame, fortune, social position, or health. Whatever the category, we are not to be concerned about it to the extent we desire something better. A familiar quote comes to mind. “It’s better to come in last place than to never have run at all.” Finally, successful Christians must be committed to a life of service. Stanley noted that on a global scale most Americans are rich. Due to the fueling of our appetites, we desire more and more in order to be satisfied. Our homes, cars, bank accounts, and the litany of things in which we take pleasure are all on loan from God. We must use what he has provided to serve others – to be their waiters, attendees, and errand boys.

            The way of Christianity leads to Jerusalem and to the cross. The most successful Christian in all of history was persecuted, flogged, spit on, and nailed to a cross. He was a man without a home and few possessions, yet he was the King of kings. Jesus came in last by the world’s standard and in so doing was first by God’s. He denied himself to the point of death. Of low earthly stature, his life was one of service. Our lives must be a reflection of his. We must heed his words and apply them to our lives if we are to be successful Christians.