1 Timothy 6:17-19
Distractions of Success

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

New International Version

What does it take to be successful?

Success requires a sufficient amount of talent and skill, and it requires the opportunity to apply those skills. However, both formal studies and casual observations say that the largest difference between those who succeed in big ways and those who do not is determination. Sports stories abound with praise for the champions with enough "heart" to overcome challenges and who "wanted to win" more than their competitors. Stories of wildly successful businesses usually start with a founder who single-mindedly pursued a plan that others considered outrageous. We perceive in studying the life and writings of Paul that he had a similar single-mindedness in his devotion to the call of spreading the Gospel to the known world.

There's an odd characteristic of this single-minded drive that we frequently see in our heroes, and that we have felt inside ourselves: encountering obstacles often increases the energy devoted to achieving the goal. Obstructions make us angry or cause us to desire with greater fervor that which is more difficult to achieve. We rise to the challenge, or to put it negatively, we retaliate against whatever seeks to defy our will.

I came across this passage as I was searching for scriptures relating to the subject of putting God first in my life. What caught my attention was Paul's comment about rich people who pursue wealth, "which is so uncertain". It suddenly occurred to me that the very personality traits that made these rich people rich would have driven them to work harder precisely because their riches were uncertain. The same is true today.

In other words, we know that God's love is certain in our lives, and we know that everything else in our lives is uncertain to varying degrees. Rationally, we should choose to cling to the One who is certain. Emotionally, we are often lured to confront those uncertainties that go against how we want the world to operate. The more the "real" world defies our desires, the more satisfaction we get when we are successful in imposing our will. The very same trait evidenced in Paul as he "fought the good fight" can tempt us to forget our "first Love" and chase after that which frustrates us.

Business stories yield evidence of this same misguided drive in the financial excesses of some high profile executives. Many business heroes have accumulated an amount of wealth far beyond what they can reasonably spend or enjoy. Many top business leaders have negotiated unreasonably excessive compensation and retirement packages. The motivation for these individuals obviously cannot be financial, given the extreme amounts of money involved--the motivation is overcoming the challenge, either by negotiating the impossible deal, by exceeding the financial achievements of their rivals, or, in sports terms, "running up the score". The fact that an obscenely large stock options grant is so difficult to get makes the achievement all the more gratifying when the Chief Executive convinces the Board of Directors to agree to it.

We don't achieve that same sense of victoriously overcoming challenges when we "convince" God to love us. Just the opposite--God compels us to set aside the challenges we want to pursue, and allow God to choose our objectives. The passion we expend on challenges that evade and frustrate us needs to be redirected to the One who can respond to our passion with a Love that makes us complete.

Notice that Paul provides a "treatment" for the misguided emotional motivations of rich people of his day, which is same two fundamental commandments to love God and love people. Pursue God, who will provide for all our physical and emotional needs, instead of pursuing success and that elusive feeling of achievement. Focus on doing selfless acts of kindness instead of asserting ourselves. Place a high value in graciousness and be suspicious of our motivations for achievement.

Most of all, we must constantly remind ourselves that what this world considers to be evidences of a worthy and admirable life pale in comparison to the true Life God wants each of us to enjoy.