“Miserable successes” have become an American proverb. The world proclaims a gospel of success that falsely claims moving up the ladder is the way to be happy in this world. Nevertheless, the wealthy often have more trouble sleeping than the homeless person wrapped in newspaper on skid row. Powerful politicians constantly worry about their poll numbers, and professional athletes fret their inevitable decline in skill. For many, achieving the dream of “success” often creates more anxiety and stress than it does happiness.

What does your version of success look like? How does it compare to what success looks like in the eyes of the Lord: “strive toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)? Such a life may bring you into conflict with this world; true faith may require you to fail in terms of worldly success. With that in mind, consider the following three areas of your life and how you define success:

1. A Successful Family Life

We need to examine family relationships in the light of heavenly values. For example, do you view your wife as necessary to your personal fulfillment, or do you instead seek to serve her needs? Do you consider success in marriage to be more about getting or giving? Are you one of those guys who needs a trophy wife to feel good about yourself?

And what about your children? Do you encourage them to do their best at school in order to achieve worldly successes or to grow in their faith? Is it more important to you that they get a scholarship to the university or that they follow the will of God? Would it disappoint you if your son or daughter decided to become a missionary or to enter the ministry? Prayerful, honest self-evaluation will expose whether you need successful kids to bolster your own ego.

True faith may require you to fail in terms of worldly success.

2. A Successful Church Life

It has become painfully obvious that many churches operate according to the standards of worldly success. In much of what is called the “mega-church” movement, “showtime” religion has replaced the “old-time” religion. What is offered as standard pulpit fare neglects and avoids difficult topics and takes great pains not to offend sinners. Methodology often trumps orthodoxy and the gospel is watered down to suit the crowds. (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2-3)

What do you look for in a church? How important is it that your church preaches the truth and does not neglect to declare the whole counsel of God? (cf. Acts 20:27) Decide whether you believe church is a matter of serving or of being served. Do you go to church to be a blessing or to be blessed? Do you find yourself criticizing the music, the sermon, the people? If so, you most likely are measuring on a worldly scale.

3. A Successful Vocational Life

What would you be willing to do to climb the corporate ladder? If you found yourself in a position that required you to sacrifice principle for promotion, would you remain true to your convictions? Do you go to work with a sense that God has placed you in the workplace as an emissary for the gospel? How badly does it bother you when others get promoted over you? It’s been said that the test of a man’s character is his willingness to labor in obscurity.

What do you consider success? Do you need wealth, recognition, position, or power to be happy? We need to understand that sin has turned the desire to succeed inward. The drive for success in this world is fueled by a selfish desire for first place and earthly honor. How far that is from the example Jesus gave us. In the eyes of this world he died a failure. Pilate was the power-broker who gave the order to crucify. The resurrection effectively demonstrated how successful our Lord was and how tragically the governor failed.