Jesus never taught people how to make a living. He taught people how to live. “God doesn’t call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful” (Albert Hubbard). Most people have their eye on the wrong goals. Is your goal more money, a higher position, or more influence? These are not goals, but rather by-products of goals.
Having the proper perspective is critical.
What’s a true goal? It’s this: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Josh. 1:8 NIV). Work to become, not acquire. God wants eternal fruit, not religious nuts.
Do not seek success in and of itself. Instead, seek the truth and you’ll find both. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.
“Happiness is not a reward—it is a consequence. Suffering is not a punishment—it is a result” (Robert Green Ingersoll). Do the very best you can and leave the results to God. Potential is the most empty word in the world, but God can fill it to overflowing.
“Oh how small a portion of earth will keep us when we’re dead, who ambitiously seek after the whole world while we are living” (anonymous). “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). People are funny: they spend money they don’t have, to buy things they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like. Don’t spend your life unproductively like Frank Perkins of Los Angeles. In 1992 he made an attempt on the world record for flagpole sitting. By the time he had come down, eight hours short of the four-hundred-day record, his sponsor had gone bust, his girlfriend had left him, and his phone and electricity had been cut off.
Success lies not in achieving what you aim at, but in aiming at what you ought to achieve. Do what God wants you to do, and trust Him to take care of the rest.
Seek God first and all you’ll really want will find you.