ARE YOU SUCCESSFUL?
One of the very first lessons I had to learn as a pastor, and one that was vitally necessary for me to pastor a church, was to correctly define SUCCESS. When I met someone new and they asked me what I did I told them I was a pastor. Usually their second question was, “What size is your church?” When I told them the size (it was small) they just said, “Oh” and changed the subject. It was clear that, in their eyes, I wasn’t very successful.
Many churches measure success by numbers: how many members, how many attend each week, size of the budget, how much given to missions, etc. The larger the numbers the more God is blessing the church but the lower the numbers, well…..
This can be very hard on pastors for we can feel discouraged and think we are a failure if our church isn’t growing into a large church. But that isn’t what matters to God. We don’t know the size of any New Testament church, but we do know which were healthy and which were unhealthy. That is what matters to God.
Think back to your ministry this past month. Was it successful in God’s sight? Were you faithful in doing your best, imperfect as it was? That’s all parents expect of children and it’s all our heavenly Father expects of His children as well.
Did you prepare well for your sermons and deliver them to the best of your ability? Were you patient with those in need? Did you make your wife and children a top priority in your life? Did you spend regular time in personal, private prayer and worship? Are the people you are ministering to growing spiritually? These things are what define success.
Paul’s definition of success in 1 Corinthians 4:2 is “In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy (faithful).” If we faithfully do the best we can with the resources we have, no matter what the results, God will say “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Being faithful means serving and obeying God the best we can – but not in our own strength, only in His strength. It is a fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us (Galatians5:22-23) when we are following Jesus and relying on His power and guidance (John 15:4-11). To be faithful means “to be full of faith,” for our faith plugs us into Christ and His power. Christ enables us to be as He was and is “trustworthy, dependable, reliable,” no matter what is happening (or not happening) around us. Success is being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to us, in good times and bad.
Therefore, you were successful last month if you were faithful to the duties and responsibilities God has given you. Success has little to do with results you can see in numbers or statistics. We can’t determine our own success (v. 3-4). Only the Lord can make an accurate assessment of our ministry. And He will do that, says Paul in verse 5, when He comes again and “brings to light the things now hidden in darkness… Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”
I see my role as pastor as similar to a quarterback in American football. His purpose is to throw passes to his receivers. He must faithfully throw the best pass he can, but when the ball leaves his hands what happens is no longer up to him. It’s up to the receiver. Some may drop perfect passes while others may make a spectacular catch of a poorly thrown ball. The quarterback is not responsible if the receiver catches the ball or not, only for throwing the best pass he can. We as church leaders are accountable to do our best with God’s help, then leave the results to Him. He expects us to faithfully serve. Only He can judge the results for only He can read the hearts of those we minister to.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself; however, I am not vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then praise will come to each person from God.
Write down your definition of success. How does it compare to what I have written above?
When God looks at your heart and faithfulness, what does He see? If there are any areas where you haven’t been faithfully doing your best, ask for His forgiveness and commit to doing what He wants.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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