“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” –Matthew 16:24-26 NLT
Isn’t it funny what a little success, money and popularity can do to us?
Not necessarily just to those who make it in Hollywood, or politically in DC, or to the professional sports level and all the wealth that may await them. But even to us that start seeing a little success… that start feeling our confidence grow in our skills and abilities and knowledge.
The callousness and arrogance and self importance slowly starts trickling in until suddenly we start believing the lies that the enemy tells us. Start believing in our self importance. Start trusting in ourselves instead of trusting in the Lord.
We see it in the news… even today.
The problem is that believing in ourselves and having confidence in ourselves are not bad things in and of themselves. Not bad as long as that confidence and belief stems from our faith, confidence and belief in the Lord.
He is the source of our confidence. He is the foundation of our success.
True success is found when we lay down our lives and give it to Him. When we take up our cross and follow Him. When we allow Jesus to work in and through us and guide our steps and our lives.
The world says “trust in yourself…”
The Word says “trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
The world says “chase your dreams.”
The Word says “take up your cross and follow me”
The world says “make your dreams come true.”
Jesus wants us to give Him our dreams and watch what He will do with them… watch what He will do in and through us.
Which will you choose to hear, trust, and believe?
“…what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
Think and Pray: What does success look like in your life? Heavenly Father, I pray that You would help me seek success in Your eyes, not in the worlds. Help me to do that this week in Jesus’ name, amen.
Marty Stubblefield is a husband, father, businessperson, youth coach, and former college basketball player. Having spent 34+ years in Banking, Bank Administration and State Government across the Southeast, he brings a different view of faith, life, and the struggles we face in the marketplace and our day-to-day lives. He has been married to Amy for 28 years, has three daughters, a son-in-law, grandson, and two Labradoodles. He blogs weekly at oldlazydog.com.
