2013—SUCCESS  OR  FAILURE ?

2013—SUCCESS  OR  FAITHFULNESS ?

I will make more money.

I will get out of debt.

I will lose weight.

I will get in shape.

I will get spiritual.

I will find love.

I will build my new shop.

I will give more.

I will help the needy.

I will go to church.

I will get my family on track.

I will keep one resolution.

I will be successful.

I will change the world.

I will get weary on January 1.

I will take today off.

Tomorrow . . . I will . . .

 

I suppose everyone would say the opposite of success is failure.

But what about the second line above?  Could it imply a parallel that the opposite of success is faithfulness?  Now that would be strange.

But if we stop to think long enough at this beginning of a new year, we can see there is a difference between “success” and “faithfulness.”

When it comes to setting goals, and maintaining them, and implementing them, I propose there is even a contrast between success and faithfulness.

Try as hard as we might to focus differently, it is almost impossible to steer away from the culture’s definition of success.

We are expected to do well, do better, financially.

We are expected to get ahead [get ahead of what, or whom?].

We are expected to be respected.

We are expected to be accepted.

We are expected to “get over it and move on.”

We are expected to act and speak of success.

We are expected to take ownership and tell what we gained for ourselves.

 

CONTRAST with this:

“What is required of a steward—just be found faithful.”

I believe in the principles of capitalism and free enterprise and private ownership of property.  But what if we took the above quote to base all resolutions on the principle of faithful stewardship in every part of our life?

Right now I could go through every one of the “I will” and “We are expected” lines above and write a commentary on each, from the perspective of faithfulness, instead of anxiety over success or fear of failure.

I guess “steward” is not a common word today.  It’s because the meaning is not common today.  “Steward” means we don’t own it—we’re taking care of it for Someone else.

And—“it” is everything in our lives, everything.  It’s not just all our stuff, or part of our stuff.  It’s our life, our health, our energy, our thoughts, our emotions, our soul, our relationships, our needs, our wants, our time, our future, our New Year’s Resolutions, and our real future after life seems to stop.

 

Perfect for January 1.2013:

“Offer to God thanksgiving;

Pay you vows [resolutions] to the most High;

Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you;

You will glorify Me.”

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR—IN THE PARTS THAT ARE FOR KEEPS