Defining Success

An inescapable part of our human nature is an inner desire to be successful. We feel humiliated by failure and we're terrified by the thought of falling short in the things that matter most. Of course we all have different life goals, but our pursuit of spiritual, professional and relational success is something most people have in common. In fact, my recent observation has been that emotional depression is very often rooted in a person's belief that they have simply fallen short in one of these areas. It's for this reason that properly defining success on a personal level is so critically important. After all, even pursuing the right things can be exhausting; to spend your life pursuing the wrong things would be a tragedy.

As someone who is fully convinced of the need to memorize Scripture, it's only natural that I want to be successful in this area of my life. What I must remember, however, is that it's very possible to memorize hundreds or even thousands of verses, and still fail to properly apply the truth of Scripture. Remember, the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day were more familiar with the Bible than just about anyone else, but their hearts were nonetheless "full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness" (Matt. 23:27). It's true that obedience to the commandments of God is only possible to the extent that we are actually aware of them, but that awareness will never make godliness inevitable. To walk daily "in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" is a commitment that must be made from a heart saturated not only with Scripture, but with a genuine and sincere love for God (Ps. 23:3; John 14:15). As you hide God's Word in your heart, resist the temptation to prioritize the technical aspects of memorization - deadlines, quiz scores, total verses, etc. - above actually converting your knowledge into obedience and fruitful service to God (1 Sam. 15:22; John 15:8). In the end, that's what will determine whether or not you were truly successful.