We all want to be successful in life, don’t we?
Am I successful enough? We live in a time where people are actively encouraged to think along these lines. How can I be smarter, richer, more attractive? How can I get a better job, earn more money and afford a more luxurious lifestyle?
we know what success looks like and how to achieve it. Study hard to get into our dream university so that we can clinch our dream job later on, eat well and exercise so that we will have good health, love people around us so we can enjoy good relationships and the list goes on.
Here a few ways God has shown me how a “successful” life as a Christian looks like.
Follow the Teachings of Jesus
Any discussion of how to live a Christian life should focus first and foremost on the teachings of Jesus Christ, which we can read about in the Bible. The entire Bible is full of insight into who God is, our sinful predicament, God’s plan to redeem us, and how we should live in light of these realities. As (2 Timothy 3:16) says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels, in particular, encapsulate the themes found throughout Scripture and help us understand what it means to be a Christian. For this reason, we often encourage people who want to learn about Christianity to start by reading the Gospels.
Focus on God
hold up a Bible at arm’s length, before slowly bringing it closer to you. Eventually, the Bible will occupy your view and you won’t be able to see anything else. Of course, it doesn’t mean that everything else isn’t there; it simply is a change of view and perspective. Your focus is now on God.
When we wait on God daily, we also find strength and rest in Him (Isaiah 40:31). Successful living a Christian life begins when we recognize that we are weak and that we need God’s help. He, not ourselves, becomes our strength to get through.
Manage and Organize Your Life
One way we can do this practically is to manage and organize our lives well. Keeping track of our daily appointments and to-do lists, and allocating time to rest, sleep, and eat well all play a part in helping us live the best lives God intends for us. Not only does this help us to be productive in our tasks, it also helps us to prioritize time to spend with God and others around us.
(Colossians 3:23) writes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord ” This verse urges us to work with excellence, putting the best of our efforts into whatever job we’re given, however big or small, because we want to please our Master.
A focus on things of worth
Instead of being absorbed by temporal things, allowing ourselves to be driven by selfish ambition and conceit, we can have our focus on things of worth! We can seek the things that are above and are of true value in eternity. Think how different it is to pursue God’s honor, instead of the honor that comes from people, to “…pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart,” instead of earthly riches!
(2 Timothy 2:22) These things are of eternal worth; they are not corrupted, nor do they pass away. And people who pursue such goals in life will never be anxious or disappointed.
