Success is: belief

The last leg ... back to London after a lovely day with my parents

Time for the next chapter of "Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome" by Kent and Barbara Hughes!

"Without faith it is impossible to please God!" That is, belief in the sovereign miracle-working God of the Old Testament... the God of Scripture!

A belief in the loving Creator God - like that of Daniel and his mates that trusts even when your life is on the line... a belief that manifests itself like those in the "Hall of Faith" of Hebrews 11. That God actively works in us, through us and for us and will reward us even if we cannot see or understand how.

Kent reminds us that without this faith it is impossible to please God. Without this faith life cannot be called a success - no matter what others may call it.

time for a little kip now...

Success is: a healthy love life

On a train to Exeter now...

A "devoted" husband who had not told his wife he loved her for 25years said that his faithfulness demonstrated his love! The Prodigal Son's older brother suggests otherwise - whose devoted service was actually devoid of love!

It is possible to pastor a large church without love for God; preach insightful biblical Christ-exalting sermons without love for God; deepen others' love for God without love for God!

Do you really love Him? Kent reminds us that loving God is the ground of all true success - and that is truly liberating! It liberates us from "the destructive tendency to compare ourselves with others. After all, who can measure the love of another's heart? ... our dignity and accomplishment lie in our relationship to God and our love for him. It frees and motivates us to live our life's highest priority, because if we really do believe that loving God is the most important thing in life, then everything - our conversation, our schedules, our ambitions - will progressively reflect his love."

Success is: Serving

The world sees success as how much we're being served!

"The conducter of a great symphony orchestra was once asked which was the most difficult instrument to play. 'The second violin', he answered. 'I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play second violin with enthusiasm - that is a problem. And if we have no second violin, we have no harmony."

We all want the top spot! Even in ministry we can be quick to think success is measured by how vast a people we speak to, if we're getting the right invitations - and being seen with the right people in the right places!

There was certainly no one keen to play second fiddle in the room with Jesus before the Passover... with dirty feet they sat - no one willing to stoop low amongst his brothers to perform the servant task of washing their feet! John 13

That is apart from the Creator and Sustainer of the world itself - derobed and at his followers feet - he lowers himself with the selfless act of washing his disciples clean... a picture of what is to come as the one worthy of all glory and honour becoming a servant to the utmost - becoming obedient even to death on a cross - spilling his blood to wash clean the guilty!

If this is the attitude of our Lord and Master - how can we think we, his servants, are greater than Him!

"We had discovered that in service - not self-service - is the true pursuit of success!"

Success is: Faithful Obedience

On a train to Plymouth... Reading 'Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome' by Kent Hughes

How do we define Success? The world is quick to place a measurable, quantifiable value on Success! Even within ministry we can be quick to measure growth in numbers as the success factor...

Kent helps remind us that God's servants are not called to be 'successful' but faithful and obedient to His Word!

So, we should be 'mighty in the Scriptures' (Acts 18:24) and obedient to them (Joshua 1:7-8)