Foolish To Men (Real Success)

When most people hear the word successful, they usually envision great men and women who have gained riches or titles as they lived their lives. Men and women who have written books, opened shops, received many degrees, have set their names in the history books, and have acquired great wealth to be seated next to the rich and famous. This is not an attack on what one may perceive or believe success to be. However, this is an attempt to reveal the account of what success really is for one who reads the Bible and the words of Jesus the messiah and holds them to be true.

Isaiah was a man who lived not for the desires of the flesh, but lived in intersession for the people of Israel so they would not be condemned to Hell because of their belief of what success and glory were. He was ostracized and martyred for his efforts to do this. Yet he saw the glory of God and even spoke with God, and when he died, he without a doubt, entered into heaven to be with his heavenly father. John the Baptist, also a radical for God, lived in the desert, wore clothes made of camel hair that probably stunk a mile away, and ate locusts! He preached the words of God and was killed. He also, without a doubt, pleased the Lord and was awarded for it. Paul, an apostle of God, lived as one of the first missionaries and traveled in storms, was mobbed and left for dead, was ship-wrecked and much, much more in order to reach those who would perish without the truth of God's love. He was murdered for being sold-out for God and died a friend of God. Men and women like these, which the Bible is filled with in every single book, were all successful.

Success is not just about material accomplishments and name recognition. The Bible is quick to make that clear here, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mathew 16:26). Success is giving up life as we know it; our selfishness, greed, ambition, and pride. Success is dying to oneself so that God can be in control; faceless and nameless. A man who lays down his life as an offering to God in obedience is a successful man. This type of talk may sound foolish to most, however the Bible says, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27). How will it be put to shame? When it is all said and done in the end, and one is standing in the presence of the Almighty, what will one reply when He says, "What did you do for me?"

In the end, success is not about having a the new Phantom, being an entrepreneur, having one's name in the history books, owning a yacht in the Caribbean, but success is pleasing God by loving Him with all one's heart and walking it out. It is not all boring either. If one is truly yielded to God, one cannot be a zombie or not have pleasure. The coolest thing about being completely sold-out for God is the fact that, "In Your presence [is] fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11). Once one makes the transition to that New Jerusalem, it will all be worth it knowing that one gave his all for the Glory of God. At that moment one will know what success truly is.

Sincerely Yours
Richard Valencia