John 15:16, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Carl Belcher

I've found myself recently thinking about what does it mean to be successful. What ingredients are needed to produce success and what does it look like?

The dictionary definition of success is:

• The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted


• The gaining of fame or prosperity


• The extent of such gain

Its hardly surprising that there is an ever-increasing torrent of 'get famous' TV shows out there feeding our celebrity obsession, when two thirds of the dictionary definition of success centres on fame.

If success really does depend upon notoriety then out of the 7 billion people that make up the world's population, there will only be a handful that can be considered successful.
Does that mean that the rest of us are doomed to be unsuccessful? Of course not. The issue isn't actually about being successful; it's about being fruitful. That's the real measure of success and that's what God calls us to be.

"You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name." John 15:16

Being fruitful isn't centred on how well others think you've done, but in relation to how you've used the life God has given you. The gifts, time, material resources and opportunities.

Success, or fruitfulness will look different in each one of us because we are all unique. However, there will hopefully be some common areas of character that we are all growing in as Paul mentions to the Galatians.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

But because we are all unique, what that looks like on the ground, the things we do on a day-to-day basis will be very different from one person to the next. To put it another way Paul describes this journey of fruitfulness as a race. We only have one life to live while we're here on earth and no one else can run your race!

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

So what can you do to ensure that you win your race?

1. Know the end from the beginning. The fruit will be good if the root is good.
"It's not how you start it's how you finish" is true, but a good start sure helps a lot! The finishing line may seem like a long way off, but the decisions you make today determine the outcome of your tomorrow.

2. Have regular motivational injections.
Attend conferences; use the gifts God has given you. We all have to get on with the jobs that just need doing, but make sure that you sprinkle in a little enjoyment to the mix.