Richard Halverson said, "Christianity began in Palestine as a relationship, moved to Europe and became an institution, then came to America and became an enterprise." Fascinating, sad, and I think true.
In the U.S. I find that many Christians tie their sense of value to an idea of "what I have accomplished for the Lord." This takes the form of writing books, starting ministries or churches, developing "kingdom centered" businesses and other things like this. It has a characteristically american entrepreneurial flavor to it. Is that bad? I suppose like a lot of things, it has it's good sides and it's not so good sides. I could reflect on that for several pages.
However, for the moment, my greater interest is how the bible tends to portray success. Ironically, many of the people our entrepreneurial and quantifiable measuring sticks might consider successful are portrayed somewhat negatively in the bible. Solomon was a man who had amassed tremendous wealth and had a heart for God; for a while. The tragedy is that at the end of Solomon's life the bible says he worshiped foreign gods. His wealth took his heart and led it away from God. Then in the new testament there is a man called only "the rich young ruler" who was apparently very successful. He however, turned away from Jesus; he was too devoted to his wealth and status. Even Job, in all his struggle, is a story of a wealthy man who appeared to have a wealth-formula theology. His struggles led him out of this false theology toward a relationship with the grand and glorious God. The guys who were "successful" are generally not held in esteem in the bible's economy.
Then there are others who are huge successes - stand-out luminaries who shine as examples. They are people like Ruth - who had nothing, but was a woman of profound devotion and character. In the new testament, there are three people that come immediately to mind (since it's Christmas time): Simeon, Anna, and John the Baptist. These three people appear to be very modest people. They are without worldly acclaim or accomplishment, yet they are towering figures of success in the bible. Simeon was a man of deep devotion who had shaped his heart into expectant devotion awaiting the messiah. You could say that giving his heart to God and expectantly awaiting the messiah was his vocation. Anna was a woman who spent seemingly all her time in the temple courts praying and worshiping. John the Baptist was the one who said one of the most significant things any human being has ever said regarding God: "I must decrease and he must increase." Of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ himself said "there is none greater born of woman."
Simeon and Anna were people to whom the world paid little attention. John the baptist received attention, but likely was seen by most as a kind of religious kook. The bible however makes it clear that these people are a huge "success" and the "successful people" were often not what the bible considers successful.
If this question is ever a struggle for you - you've wondered "what you've accomplished for the Lord," take heart and realize that Dick Halverson was right. Christianity started in Palestine as a relationship, and giving your heart to God is the highest version of success in His eyes.
