I know…I know…how many times do you have to read something about success?  That is probably what you are thinking right about now and my guess is that seeing the title turned some people off for various reasons.  “I know what he is going to say, even before he says it.”  “Success is counted not measured by numbers.”  “I am just so tired of hearing about success this or success that.  Give it a rest.”  I suppose I should because if I took the time to look back over the year and a half of blogging I suspect it would creep in here and there (Okay probably a lot or at least more than I think).  But in complete, total honesty I am probably like many most of the pastors across this country: no matter what I say and how I say it I am still affected by numbers.  Not as bad as I once was but I still tend to “feel it” when the numbers this week did not measure up to last week’s.  And I personally think that most pastors who tell you that they are not affected are either denying reality or simply not telling the truth.  So after just finishing reading and reviewing two leadership books –Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing (yesterday) and Killing Cockroaches (tomorrow), I once again wrestled with the age old question that I thought I was over: Am I successful?  Now, please don’t misunderstand me.  Neither one of the books broached the subject directly but through the simple process of reading a book on Leadership I find myself doing some introspection.   Here are my thoughts (for what they are worth):

I must continue to remind myself that while numbers are used as a gauge by many to judge success/failure, God never does.  I personally believe that judging success/failure by numbers is a man-made tool, one that actually may have been spawned by hell itself.  If the enemy can get a pastor/leadership/church focusing on numbers, he can take the focus off where it belongs.

I also have to continue reminding myself that many biblical characters looked like failures to the human eye.

• Joseph, unwanted by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of attempted rape by his master’s wife, forgotten in prison, it looked from the outside that Joseph was forgotten and a failure.  But Genesis is clear: “What man meant for evil God meant for good.” [50:20]
• Moses, raised in luxury for 40 years but willing as Hebrews states it: “choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” [11:24] God then used this broken, “unsuccessful” man to lead 6 million of His people out of slavery and establish a new nation.
  
• David, the shepherd boy who dared to defy Goliath, and by his simple act of courage and bravery sent shock waves through Saul’s palace, spent the next 11 years on the run from what would surely be diagnosed today as a manic depressive, bi-polar king, who tried to take David’s life at different times.  David was described as “the man after God’s own heart.” What an honor it would be to be known by that description.

There are so many more examples like Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Stephen, Peter, Paul and the list goes on and on.  Take the last name on that list: Paul.  He called himself “the chief of sinners.”  Read I Timothy 3: 12-17 to see Paul’s take on his life.   Ultimately, what Paul teaches me, in fact all of us is this:  Greatness is not in what we do but to whom we belong. No mention of numbers.  No mention of large crowds although I am sure there were.  Only Paul’s recognition that who he was and all that he had accomplished was all because He belonged to Someone…Jesus.  Please stick with the following video.  Eddie talks a little at the front and since it was recorded at a festival the quality is not the best.  But the words Dana sings are primary.

And that, my friends, makes me successful because I belong to the same One.  Do you have any thoughts you care to share?  I would love to hear them. Have a great day!!