What is True Success? A Kingdom Perspective

The church is not immune to the power-hungry drives for success.

We all want to be at “the top”. James and John’s mother came and asked him if they could be at Christ’s right hand in Heaven.

Jesus responds that they do not know the suffering it would take to be at such a position (Matthew 20:20-28).

The measure that one is “successful” in the kingdom is entirely dependent upon one’s willingness to suffer.

James and John proclaimed that they “were able” to suffer. Jesus then assures them, “’you will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are not Mine to give. Whoever My Father says will have those places.’”

The request then inspires turmoil amongst the disciples. How dare James and John think themselves more worthy than the others for such positions. Jesus then calms the storm with these profound words,

“’You know how the kings of the nations show their power to the people. Important leaders use their power over the people. It must not be that way with you. But whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you. Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant. For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and made free from the punishment of sin.’”

If you want to be first, then you must serve.

If you want to be great, then you must care for those around you.

 We serve in an upside-down Kingdom in which our King asks us to hate our own lives so we can find them, leave our mothers and fathers, and let the dead bury the dead. With one’s treasures lied in earthly realities, these seem like nearly impossible asks. In fact, we know time and time again that when Jesus offered the naturally rich a seat at the table, they rejected him and his offer. They saw their earthly possessions of more value than intimacy with the Father.

Jesus only did what he saw his Father doing; he only said what his Father said. He gave nothing out of his own possession, but all that he gave was an assignment of stewardship from the hands of the Father. Jesus, who is God, came to model complete obedience to the Father. There was not a moment when Jesus grieved the Holy Spirit; He was and is and always will be fully surrendered to his Father’s Will.

If we want to be at “the top” in the Kingdom we must learn to be humbled, to become childlike, and wrestle down the lie that we own our own lives. We do not own ourselves. We do not own our time. We do not own our money. We do not own our breath. We can’t earn anything or work for anything. That is the great lie of this age, that in working for Babylon we can earn our place and a sense of security. All earthy power will fade as fast as it has come. Just as the wind blows, and the flowers fade, so our lives will disappear from the face of the earth. People will cease to care that we ever existed as they will be consumed with their own earthly striving. All of this is a chasing after the wind. We know, there is nothing new under the sun.

Even if one was to accumulate all the wealth and security in the land, they leave it to another with no guarantee that they will steward over it well or honor the sacrifices of the former generation.

I find now that I am not afraid of death, because I do not own even the short life that I have.

Tomorrow is not promised. I know of story after story of young person dying at the hands of “fate” or “random accidents”. All their dreams, ambitions, and strivings cease in a matter of seconds. There is no guarantee that our lives with be good or favorable.

 This is what I have found, one thing worth striving for—to dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 27:4). I love Psalm 16 that says, “at his right hand are pleasures forever.” Intimacy with the Father, with my Father in Heaven is my only guarantee in this life. In poverty, in riches I know that his presence is a constant guarantee of my inheritance when I put faith in Christ.

I desire to be successful and secure and safe. All of these things, these desires God has placed in the heart of man. It is not the desire that is wrong, it is the places we go to fulfill these desires. To find success in an earthly kingdom or position, to find safety in the frailties of riches leave no real comfort for they can vanish in an instant.  

Thus, in my imitation of Christ, I desire only to do what I see my father doing, I desire only to say what I hear my father saying.

I desire to live a life fully surrendered to the Spirit of the living God for this is true freedom. It is freedom from sin, freedom from the bondage of a selfish and self-filled life. All other ground is sinking sand.  

I can say, on Christ the solid rock I stand, because he truly is the only One that is secure. If he can overcome death, then I am now free to live a life of resurrection. In sharing with his suffering, I have the great privilege of dining at his table, and sharing in his glory.

I live for this reality. I live for this one truth for he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I know that perfect love casts out all fear, and this is the safest place I could ever live—in the eternal arms of my Father in Heaven.