Is Our Model Of Success Anything Close To God’s?

Winning. The American Dream.

Fame. Riches. Power—on the cover of a magazine.

Contract for beating competitors on reality TV.

Last man standing—errbody wants to be me.

Yeah, that’s a championship ring—bling.

Bow down now ’cause I am king.

Talking about and thinking about success…

Makes me wonder: is our model of success anything close to God’s?

It seems to me, our model of success looks a lot like the “king of the mountain” game we played as kids on the tractor tire in our elementary school playground. Push everyone else down and raise my hands in victory—they lose, I win. Success!

I believe our model of success is largely shaped by jealousy—wanting what others have, and selfish ambition—what’s best for me is what drives me.

Is our model of success anything close to God’s or does our “success” move us in the opposite direction from where He wants us to be?

James chapter 3 frames wisdom from above (God’s kind of wisdom) and wisdom from below (our kind of wisdom) as completely different.

Our kind of wisdom—what makes sense to us and sounds like a good idea is…

Overflowing with jealousy and selfishness. —James 3.15, 16

God’s kind of wisdom—what He values, gives, and wants from us is…

Overflowing with mercy and blessings. —James 3.17

Quite the contrast.

A flood of jealousy and selfishness is all about ME.

A flood of mercy and blessings is all about OTHERS.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that worships and idolizes the takers.

As God’s people, we must move away from this kind of “wisdom” because it’s from below.

And as we move away from overflowing jealousy and selfish ambition, we move towards the wisdom from above—God’s kind of wisdom—which overflows with mercy and blessings.

Q. Which model of success will you move towards today?