Success

Many years ago now, I friend sent me an email titled, “God won’t ask…” It read:

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but he’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but he’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but he’ll ask if they dictated your life.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but he’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but he’ll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but he’ll ask about the content of your character.

The list goes on, but you get the idea. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobile rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind.”

As we reflect on our own lives, may we continue to reflect on how we judge success.

Let us pray: Loving God, we are told so often, in so many different ways, that we will find joy and happiness by having more. We have been disappointed time and again. Today, we remember that true joy and meaning are discovered mostly in relationships, generosity, and service to others and in a life given to you. Meet us this day wherever we are on the journey. We ask in Christ’s name. Amen.