What is Success?

In Genesis 37:3-36, we see Joseph receive a promise from God in the form of a dream. In two different dreams, he sees his brothers bowing down to him. He shared this with his brother and let’s just say that they weren’t too thrilled about his “revelation.” This was the last straw for this brother they already held in contempt for being the favorite. His brothers conspired against him, threw him in a pit and sold him to the first bidder as a slave! This was not part of the “success story” that he envisioned!

So, what is success? Is it a crowd? Many of us think so. At least we talk as if it is. “Man, God has done something big at that church! I can’t believe how successful it is…” In most cases, that’s actually true. In my time traveling, I met dozens of “successful” churches who are let’s say over 1,000 people and the pastor and leadership team were as legit as they come! Sincere, kind, Christ-like, etc. But let’s face it, some of the large churches today are not “successful” in God’s eyes. I’ve spoken with people who were fired from those churches for simply asking “the wrong question” or speaking up about character problems. (and I also met a few first-hand. Not fun) So, is that church successful in God’s eyes? Is it ok to compromise our character or study and delivery of God’s Word in order to garner a crowd? No, of course not. So, it begs the question: Does a crowd equal success?” No. It most certainly does not. We often think, “I wonder if I will be successful when I attempt this…” In the Kingdom, success isn’t determined by the crowd’s opinion or the “results.” You can’t determine true success by whether someone has a crowd or not. I’ve met people who are so cynical they think that every ministry with a large crowd is in some sort of compromise and derelict. Yet, if a crowd equals compromise, is Jesus in trouble? He had crowds follow Him all the time! No, a crowd doesn’t equal compromise, nor does it equal success. In today’s “followers count” world, we need this reminder more than ever!

Success doesn’t come after obedience to the Lord. Success is obedience. We often think that success or failure is what is determined after we try. That isn’t the case with God. Success or failure doesn’t come after you try. The “trying” is the succeeding. The faith to say “yes” is the succeeding. Your success as a leader in the kingdom of God is determined by one thing and one thing only—humble obedience. Humble obedience is the outward expression of an inner value system - a value system of sonship and gratitude. When you’re so thankful the Father adopted you and rescued you from the punishment of your sin, you’ll respond in obedience to any assignment He gives.

The stage of your leadership journey that follows “Obstacles” you’re overcoming is one of the hardest for any leader. When people start to sing your praise, it’s not easy to keep your heart in check. When the booking engagements come, it’s tempting to think, “Man, I must be pretty smart!” Ironically, this stage is also the easiest. That’s what makes it so hard. People start to cater to you. You get more than you deserve. When you have success in the eyes of people, things start to get easier for you. People start to treat you with honor and respect, and the Bible teaches us to honor and respect those whom God has placed in authority, so that’s fully expected. You may even get more perks now that you’re “in charge” and have great influence. You may be commended so much that it goes not only to your head but also to your heart. We must guard our heart “for out of it flows the well-spring of life” The “Success Stage”, or I’ll just say, “great level of influence,” can be the most difficult season in your leadership journey! The cliffs on either side of you are steeper now and somehow closer to your feet. Your words matter more. Your indiscretions or mistakes affect more people now. Your words weigh more because they impact more people. In a season of success, you can forget that you are first a son or daughter of a loving Father. You can forget that you were an orphan in need of adoption. You can forget that you were, as Paul said in Romans, “enemies of the cross.” Remembering what God saved you from is what keeps your character intact in a season of success. If you don’t keep your Christ-like character in the midst of your great season, you haven’t succeeded in God’s eyes.

Humility and gratitude ground a leader and keep him or her steady, no matter how difficult or amazing a season is. It’s all about a proper view of God. When a leader views God as withholding something good, he views God as harsh instead of a loving Father. He or she feels “God gave them blessing, why not me!?” In turn, that leader operates with a harsh edge; they become short-tempered. When a leader views God only as a loving Father and not also as Master and Lord, he will take assignments from the Lord too lightly. 

Let’s go back to Joseph’s story. His dream did not include being sold into slavery and eventually sent to Potiphar’s house. Eventually, after passing a character test there in denying Potiphar’s wife’s advances, he still finds himself face-to-face with an obstacle: prison.

Joseph’s right choice being met with a negative consequence is a tough reality that would test his endurance. He could have gotten angry with the Lord for his current predicament. But he instead chose to see the obstacle as an opportunity and continued to trust in God. So when someone is met with a trial, even accused of something, should we instantly jump on the bandwagon and put them in a box of “the unfaithful, the unsuccessful, the frauds”? Hardly. We should keep our hearts humble and be reminded that in most cases, when a man or woman is being Biblically successful (obedient to God’s call) they will face unbelievable trials!

Joseph’s eventual success came from the giftings he had received from God – the ability to interpret dreams. One opportunity to demonstrate this gift led to another, and eventually in Genesis 41:15-41, Joseph interpreted one of Pharaoh's dreams. Your gift will always make room for you; the key is to stay faithful and true while you’re waiting for God’s timing.

Joseph literally saved the economy of Egypt! In this, he had the opportunity to get revenge on his brothers, but instead, he did the unthinkable. In Genesis 45:1-8 we see Joseph treat his brothers with kindness and forgiveness. You and I will also have these kinds of choices as leaders. In times of turmoil or conflict within your team, you can choose to be “right” or to be reconciled, to take the high road by lowering yourself and being humble enough to admit where you were wrong. There will be times when you are right and someone on your team is wrong; but you can still treat them with honor by speaking with them about it in private. Give people dignity despite their mistakes. In doing so, you can cause your entire company, ministry, department, or whatever you lead to be blessed by learning about grace. Or you can allow bitterness to lock you in a personal prison. Lead like Jesus. Embrace sonship and allow His grace to flow through you. 

Sonship is what our hearts must be after. And if we are aiming for “success” let me it Biblical success! Let it be obedience to God with the character of Christ. As leaders, we can be deceived into thinking that other things are the endgame: a big budget, position, power, or affluence. We can even think a certain quality of stage, sound, and lighting is the goal, but it’s not! These things only serve as helpful tools used by a son to serve. “Success” in the eyes of people is not the final destination for a godly leader. Sonship is. And it’s accessible to us (see John 1:12). It’s our joy is complete and we are satisfied, not striving for anything.