“You were loyal with small things; I will let you care for greater things.” Mathew 25:23 NCV
“Achievement requires that you prepare for it; success comes when you are ready for it.”
My thoughts today are about “achievement and success.”
Everyone thinks they should start at the top. That’s where success brings you, not where it finds you. You might hope for the big and important opportunities first, but that is not how life works best. You may look at the apparent ease with which someone does their job and gains recognition and promotion, and the things they enjoy as reward, and assume that you could do it just as well. But do you know all that prepared them for the success you observe and admire?
How long did they work to develop the necessary skills? What were their struggles along the way, and the mistakes and resulting lessons they learned from those? What smaller responsibilities allowed them to prove themselves and earn trust for their opportunities? All that and more contributes to being ready when opportunity arises. “Overnight success” frequently takes a long time coming.
More often than not, people who experience advancement too quickly and easily are ill prepared to handle it very well, or enjoy it very long. Success can engender differing emotions – pride of gaining it, fear of losing it, or humble gratefulness for achieving it.
People ultimately fail when they begin to proudly “believe their press,” thinking it is all about them and what they have done instead of what really happens for any of us. Some eventually sabotage themselves when they know they are over their head, and live with fear that will be found out. A person’s success can be as much the product of the kindness of generous people along the way, who saw talent and potential and gave an opportunity not yet earned. Be very grateful, and share every success benevolently!
People who understand real success are humble and thankful. As I look back across my life, anything I have been allowed to do or become has been the result of the grace of God shown to me, and the generosity of people toward me. I may have given the effort, but they gave their help.
Be careful that you do not confuse success and achievement. Everyone wants the benefits, privileges, and rewards they see others enjoy from their success. The prevailing culture glorifies the prize more than the process. As success is the product of meaningful achievements, achievement is the product of diligence and hard work, not every one is willing to give. Achievement requires that you prepare for it with single-mindedness, diligence, sacrifice and much effort; then success will come when you are ready for it. As every Boy Scout knows: ”Be prepared!”
Be wise with the success you enjoy, or it can result in failure for which you were not prepared. Too much success too easily gained can corrupt values and cloud good judgment, making you proud when you should be humble, greedy when you should be generous. Hold success gratefully when it is shared with you; use it wisely to glorify God and benefit others. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV.
Success is better measured by who you have become than by what you have or have done. That begins right now, right where you are, with what God has already given you. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much . . if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:10-12 NIV.
My prayer for you today is that you will graced by God with all that makes life best.