2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NKJV)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul finished well. But by whose standards? Was he wealthy? Was he famous? What did he have at the end of his life? He was pretty much alone and in prison. He requested that someone bring him his cloak. Not very impressive by the world’s standards indeed!
By what standards do you wish to be judged? The world will tell you that you need to drive this car, buy these clothes, shop here and live in this community. Really? Our culture has let Madison Avenue advertisers set the standards for our lives. Sorry, but that was done long ago by our Creator. I have come to a point where I care what He thinks. I want to live by God’s standards because I know He set them for our good. If we live the way God desires, we will be rewarded in Heaven but also will reap benefits of peace and contentment here. We don’t need so many things. We don’t need such big houses. What if we decided to live well below our means? Would we have more resources available to help those in need?
What does success look like to you? Is it being happy? Is it being healthy? Is it good family relationships? Is it having good friends? Is it having peace of mind? If so, why not follow the One who offers you all of these and so much more? Blessing after blessing is there for you if you follow God’s ways. All of this is within your reach. Read Deuteronomy 28. You will be blessed everywhere. You will lend and not borrow. Your enemies will be defeated. God will bless the work of your hands. He will grant you abundant prosperity. He will open the storehouses of heaven and pour out His bounty upon you. On top of all that, when you face the righteous Judge, He will hand you the Crown of Righteousness. That sounds like success to me! I want the things God has in store for me. Wouldn’t that be good for you as well? Have you fought the good fight? Hopefully, you are not near the end of your race but you never know. Have you kept the faith? Be more concerned about how you look to God than to man. Work toward pleasing God. And you too are promised the Crown of Righteousness.
Father, guide us through the maze of decisions this world calls us to make. Help us to hear Your will for our lives. Teach us things that will bless us and turn our eyes away from the temptations that seduce us to evil. There are blessings in obedience. The evil one tries to distract us from Your plan. By Your Spirit, help us keep our eyes on You. In Your name we pray!