Success: How Much is Enough?

Faith @ Work Monthly Message: July 16, 2007
Robin Martinez

How do you define success in your work?

 

That's the question Robin Martinez asked us to consider at last month's luncheon. It's a question she had to ask herself at one point in her career when she realized work had become her idol. She was chasing the ever-elusive goal of doing better than her previous personal best. Long hours and heavy workloads were the norm. 

 

When Robin began to seek God regarding her job, she was reminded that I'm successful if and only if I'm following God's plan of success. In her case, ultimately it meant leaving that career behind and following another path.

 

Robin's message is a critical one for us as women in the marketplace. God has a plan for each of us, and we need to be careful that we don't miss it by getting caught up in the world. The world has a very different view of success than God does. Vince Lombardi summed it up once when he said, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing!" Even as Christians, we can get sidetracked by this attitude. What can we do to stay focused instead on God's definition of success?

 

Robin gave us seven questions to ask ourselves:

 

1) Am I listening to God's voice and following His plan?

2) Am I daily putting Him first? (Joshua 1:8)

3) Can others see Christ in me?

4) Am I letting my light shine by putting forth my best?

5) Am I learning and growing in Christ daily?

6) Is my treasure stored up in heaven, and do my choices reflect that?

7) Do I believe I'm doing and being what God wants me to be?

Let us know what God is doing in your life. Send us a testimony of how God has used this challenge in your life and we'll share it with the Faith @ Work community. Send in your testimonies to kwarin@comcast.net. - Editor