Success as a Christian

You will find out at the judgement seat of The Messiah, how successful of a believer one is.

Making the LORD happy is all that should matter.
That seems to be easier said than done as the flesh is so very, very,very,very weak.

It's about God, not us. How He will overcome evil.

Carl Emerson said:

Just wondering how folks feel about being successful as a believer.

Big picture in mind is it to leave an inheritance - if so what kind of inheritance?

Is it being faithful in your 'small corner' ??

Is it discovering His purpose for you and walking in it ?

Is it being successful in relationships?

Is it none of the above?

Is there something to achieve?

How are you doing with this and are you happy with the outcome?

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I believe we should aim only to be faithful as a believer.
Faithful with what God has given us, faithful in prayer, faithful in adversity etc. After all, we are not told that God will one day say "well done, good and successful servant". If we faithfully serve God, in all he asks us to be and do and wherever he places us, we might one day - on our death beds - be able to say "I have succeeded; I have run, and finished, the race".

If you're asking about being successful as a person, it's taken me a long time to be able to say that I don't care.
For many years I compared myself to other people, "He's got a good job and earns a lot", "she has founded 2 charities, written books, raised thousands and got a title", "he is a bishop/theologian/Rev Dr has 5 churches/a mega church and is tipped for promotion". Achievements like that sound impressive, command respect and open many doors - people are judged on, and defined by, their achievements.
I have not had a paid job for 14 years, and before that I was ill for 18. My CV is unimpressive. I have often felt inferior compared to others, and certainly to "Christian superstars", which has, inevitably, had a bearing on how God sees me and if I am good enough for him.
Nowadays? I genuinely don't care.
I call myself a full time volunteer. Everything I do, church work, preaching, charity work, is unpaid, I can pretty much do what I like - or what I believe, before God, is right - and I'm happy. I have recently written a book. I paid to have it published, and I buy copies - hugely discounted - which I have, so far, given away do that others may hear the Gospel. I use the buses so often that I know all the regulars and a number of the drivers. We have some great, possibly deep, conversations. People have often sat next to me and started telling me about their lives and problems.

Compared to many, this is not "success" - compared to any who cannot even feed themselves, never mind think of paying to publish a book, it may well be.

Carl Emerson said:

discovering His purpose for you and walking in it

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It took some time/years.. to discover/find out..

Carl Emerson said:

Just wondering how folks feel about being successful as a believer.

Big picture in mind is it to leave an inheritance - if so what kind of inheritance?

Is it being faithful in your 'small corner' ??

Is it discovering His purpose for you and walking in it ?

Is it being successful in relationships?

Is it none of the above?

Is there something to achieve?

How are you doing with this and are you happy with the outcome?

Click to expand...

When He makes His Home in us through His Holy Spirit we become a "team". Every successful true repentance and righteous behavior is "team" generated. Our success is His success because we glorify Him by our actions as a team. We are one in Him. Nothing is more comforting than that.
Blessings.

Success isn't state of mind. Its obedience to God. Its those who do will of God, mark chapter 3 and James chapter 1 to document. The world basis success on thier standard. Jesus standard is, its those who do will of God. See why many people go to Sheol. It's my way versus obedience to God.

What's so hard about loving all as self?

Carl Emerson said:

Sounds easy - yet even Paul struggled...

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Was not his struggle with a bad habit?

That is our animal instinct

Carl Emerson said:

Just wondering how folks feel about being successful as a believer.

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I think there's only one metric that matters that is applicable to everybody, believer or not is that either you're saved or not. As long as you are truly saved, then you are 100% successful no matter what you're doing.

The Bible made it clear the "reward" is going to be the same for everyone as long as you're saved. Even the repentant thief in the cross who only got saved minutes from death is going to inherit "many houses" and a "huge family" in the life to come.

Christianity doesn't operate in the ways of the world or the ways of evil where everyone is rewarded differently, some less, some more, depending on their performance to encourage competition against another. Read the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.

The works we do here on Earth is just a test. Yes I know the Bible also made it clear some of the works we do on Earth do matter. But on top of that, it is still a test. To test your heart. I'm not saying, nothing matters. How we respond to situations still matters. It matters a lot! I know it's confusing I'm somehow saying nothing matters and yet it does, but in time, a Christian will understand.

Carl Emerson said:

Can you expand on what you mean by obedience to God - how does that work out for you in real life ?

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Hello, friend. Be happy to expand or build on it. First Corinthians chapter 3:3. For ye are yet carnal: for where as there is among you ENVYING, and strife, and division, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 3:4. For while one says, I am Paul; and another, I am Apollos; are ye not carnal? I'm laying ground work. To tie in success. What apostle Paul is saying here. The apostates, hirelings, sold out, and formed Denominations. They once knew the truth, but turned their backs on God. Like teaching apple was sin in garden of eden. Theirs no apple orchard. Adam and eve covered themselves with fig leaves. Key word in genesis chapter 3 is, Lest you touch. NAGA in Hebrew means = touch, reach. God didn't want them to know advanced knowledge. In Duertonmomy, The secret things belong to God. Adam and eve disobedience to God, by listening to satan, tree of knowledge and good and evil, they were banned from garden of eden. These apostates, hirelings, teach tradition of men and false doctrine. This is position you don't want to be in. When Jesus returns 7th trump, He has hit list for false preachers. Its called Hell. 3:6. I have planted, Apollos watered ; but God gave the increase. 3:7. Now he that plants any thing, neither he that waters: but God that gives the increase. Jesus will supply the bricks. But servant of God must study the bible and increase in knowledge, its spirtual Growth. How can Christian who is biblically illiterate help lost souls?? She/He can't. Those who are biblically illiterate are of no use to God. Obedience to God is being Doers of the word. It brings blessings and protection. Many people are outside Gods sanctuary. Get the picture. God wants Christian people to produce fruit. Psalm chapter 25:8. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. 25:9. The meek will He guide in judgement: and the meek will He teach His way. God's way is obedience. Judgement brings Rewards !. Disobedience brings punishment and trip to sheol. God expects Christian people to produce fruit. Many people have nothing to show. It's called dead works !. Get the picture. Faith and works go together. Psalm chapter 73:17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God ; Then I understand thier end..friend, the wicked and spirtualty dead have date with Sheol. It's holding place for the spirtualty dead or wicked. The saints are in paradise. Theirs Gulf that separates paradise and sheol, Luke chapter 16 to document. Those engaged with ways of the world are going to sheol. Its disobedience. They're outside Gods sanctuary. They have Dead Works. They think success is based on commodity and power or prestige or having doctors degrees. Obedience to God is producing fruit, being Doer of Gods word. Doing God's will. This is success. Rewards from Jesus and eternal life. The loser's are in Sheol. God told us how find Success !!. I hope this helps. Peace.

timewerx said:

As long as you are truly saved, then you are 100% successful no matter what you're doing.

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Only as long as you are doing His will.

timothyu said:

Only as long as you are doing His will.

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Just to make sure we are on the same page:

John 6:29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

John 14:12
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 12:47-48
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.

It may sound so easy at first glance.....But there's the problem when I talk to Christians about teachings of Christ that is often "glossed over" in church preachings, they get angry or make excuses or tell me it's not really what Jesus meant.

They reject Christ's teachings...Christians. I tell you one of these teachings - extravagant generosity to the poor and needy to the point you forgo personal luxuries and leisure. Also the teaching to shun a comfortable life just to be able to do what Christ wants us to do.

You can't be an effective follower of Christ if you always look for comfort and pleasure. You won't have enough resources to spend on Godly work if that resources you already spend on your personal comfort like tied to expensive mortgages and loans. We have many preachers like that today and as expected, they're only making lukewarm Christians. Christians who will reject the teachings of Christ.

You don't have to go around the world barefoot preaching the Lord's Word, just love His words, don't reject them. Don't hate them because you're unable to do them because of our fallen nature.

Like I said, help others in their time of need as we would like to be helped in ours. Need means dire situations, not simple wants.