Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's restaurants, was a great success story. He rose from humble means to great heights in the restaurant business. Mr. Thomas was an avid promoter of adoption. He emphasized that every child deserved a family, as he himself was adopted. In his book, "A Daily Dose of the American Dream" Allan C. Elliott quotes Thomas as saying, "Don't just study people who succeed, study people who handle success well." Joseph Bayly in "Psalms of My Life" wrote, "Save me God from success. I fear it more than failure which alerts me to my nature. I know that any success apart from Your Spirit is mere euphemism for failure."

It is certainly true that the world is full of people who have "made it" as far as the world's standard is concerned but have failed miserably when it comes to the things that matter eternally. In the Bible Solomon comes to mind. After experimenting with everything he could get his hands on in his search for happiness and fulfillment the preacher king concluded, “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity…The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8,13). Sometime to get yourself properly focused, read Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes in one setting. It's amazing how precisely relevant it is after almost 3000 years. The pursuits of life common to man have not changed. Nor has their inability to satisfy.

When God was passing the mantle of leadership from Moses to Joshua he had this to say to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" (Joshua 1:8). Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5,6). True success follows doing what God said to do, regardless of how it is perceived and received by the world.

In his book, “Thinking for a Change” John Maxwell wrote, “If you are successful, it becomes possible for you to leave an inheritance for others. But if you desire to create a legacy, then you need to leave something in others. When you think unselfishly and invest in others, you gain the opportunity to create a legacy that will outlive you.” That’s true, isn’t it? The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:3-7). Paul took the legacy of service to God that his ancestors had passed down and lived it out in his own life. He then reminded Timothy that he was a third generation servant of God who carried on the faith of his grandmother and mother.

Are you living for Jesus? Are you passing your faith on to your children? Are you successful? If you are, by whose standard—man’s or God's?

God bless you,

Brad Fry