What is success? Is it having nice things? Is it the influence we have? Is it the positions we hold?

In today’s secular society, the main measurement of success is how far ahead people can get. People work hundreds of hours per week, starve themselves, and deprive themselves from time with family; what is all of it for? To get ahead. They work to be more successful than their co-workers; they work to impress those around them. But what does all of this “success” get us? We kill ourselves daily for our time to shine, but to what end?

Luke makes a powerful statement in chapter 9 verse 25 which reads: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

This powerful statement goes against 100% of what society preaches.

Every commercial advertises its product by saying that if we buy whatever doodad they’re selling, we will be better than those around us; the Bible tells a completely different story.

When He came to the earth, Jesus’ purpose was not to become the best, most powerful and most “successful.”  Instead, He came to achieve a different type of success: He came to serve.

To those of us who have been indoctrinated to strive for the more conventional definition of success, Jesus’ mission seems alien and possibly even repulsive. But this is how to gain true success: emulate Jesus and humble yourself.

Instead of striving to put others beneath ourselves, let’s build them up through Christ, “for God did not send His son to rule the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17).