Matthew 4:1-11

Alistair Johnson looks at the difference between success and significance

Alistair Johnson

I have recently been doing some aims and goals at work for the coming 12 months. I wonder how many of you do this for your jobs; working out where you have been over the past year and thinking what would make the next year a successful year?

It got me thinking about what defined success for me in Jesus. Was it the numbers at my groups? Was it the depth of the worship experiences? Was it in the young people's knowledge of Christ and the Bible? Is it in improving the worship band? I think these are all extremely noble aims in fact. All of these play a part in my six goals, but what does it really mean to be a success?

I deeply considered what God would consider successful. It was at this point I heard this quote in a sermon by my Pastor, 'Success is a human thing that comes from achievement. Significance is a God thing that comes from obedience."

Would we really say that dying on a cross was a successful life, if we didn't know the significance of his life? Would we say that annoying some people; making some people better and feeding some people was a successful life?

If we look at Jesus being tempted in the desert we begin to see Jesus' priorities for success. In Mark 4:1-11 we firstly see the devil offer him some bread; can you imagine how tempting this must have been? Jesus wanted food as he was fasting, but instead he chose to be obedient to God. We all want more stuff because it is always in our faces; we always 'need' the next thing, but does having things really make us successful to God? Is the latest car or iPhone really a measure for success?

Secondly, we see Jesus challenged to test God. Jesus was tired and weary at this point. We all want to test to see if God is real for us sometimes don't we? I wonder if we view having more power as success whether in a better job or promotion. Do we think that will solve all of our problems?

Finally we see Jesus taken to a high mountain and offered all this world has to offer and yet again he chooses his Father, obediently. Is being successful in this world something to strive for?

When we look at Jesus' life, we find a story of obedience to his Father. We find a story that is not success focused, but instead is significance focused, beyond our wildest imaginations.

I wonder how we should define success this year in our work. Is it through the achievements we make this year or is it about the significance we have in the Kingdom of God, because for me those two seem to in opposition to each other.

I find it easy to cross the line between these two and to wrap it in good motives, but what does God truly want from us this year? Will this year be a year of success based on achievements, or will it be a year based on significance through obedience? One requires spending time listening to your Father and following his spirit wherever it moves and the other requires a simple to do list everyday. Will this year be one of to do lists or one of obedience to the Father?