Idolizing Success

FaithFueled Friday

 

Psalm 31:6 (NIV) I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.

Idols

Chasing the impossible dream

Did you ever have to read the poem, A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes? I loved it; I used to think of it when things would go wrong in business. It now has new meaning. I used to be an Entrepreneur I was so obsessed with the “Success” of my business; fulfilling my dream. At the time, I had two little girls 10 and 6 and one on the way. I don’t know if it was the pregnancy hormones, but I was on a mission to put my business on a stable platform before I had my baby. My need to succeed placed on any other priority. I relentlessly pursued every opportunity right or wrong. Looking back I have realized; my business never would be successful because God was not in the equation. I did not commission Him to help me reach my goals. I took it on my shoulders to carry that burden and became weak. Spending wasted ours chasing money and success.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NIV) I have seen all thins that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Idol

Flaws in the dream process

Now, the poem has new meaning. What happens to a dream deferred? It remains, it’s not going anywhere sometimes it needs to rest and placed for a later time. Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? It all depends on where your heart is. My heart now belongs entirely to God any dream that doesn’t glorify him has shriveled and died. I have new ideas that I am finding out can incorporate some of the old thoughts but unless it’s foundation is placed in the Lord it’s on shaky grounds. Or fester like a sore and then run? It did rot, I thought about “What will people think?” “What about all that energy I put into it?,”What about others who can obtain their dreams?” at one point all sore points but I have now found contentment in God and those wounds have healed.

idol.

Gaining the focus I need

Does it stink like rotten meat? Not anymore that has been thrown away. There is a new dream, one that involves God who can make it better than anything I could have done on my own.  Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? The peace I have, the lack of angst, the new focus is so much more pleasing. I sit back and look at those who I used to run with towards the shiny gold medal. I see the error of our ways and rather than be sore or smell the agony of defeat, I feel contentment. That is so much sweeter than being in the rat race.  Maybe it just sags like a heavy load? Not for me I have someone to help me carry that burden, someone to give my yoke to so that I can be free from burdens.  Or does it explode? Only through his grace has my business taken on new heights. The delivery has changed, but it is far exceeding anything that I could have done on my own. All because I put my idol of “success” away and leaned and relied on God. Is there something that you are making a priority over God? Is there something that you’ve done a priority and want to give it over to him now? Either way, what were your results?

Philippians 3:12-14 (12) Not that i have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (13) Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But on thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 Comments on “Idolizing Success”

  1. Beautiful post my friend! As we grow spiritually our idea and image of “success” grows too. But it grows into a beautiful creation in and of God. We no longer chase after what we imagined was success and instead lean into an understanding and faithfulness of what God plants in our hearts. And what He plants in our hearts has to be nurtured and fed though Him and His word!

  2. Truth! When you worship the promise instead of the promise keeper, the promise becomes an idol. It makes me think of the story of Abraham and Isaac. God had to show Abraham that his faith needed to be in Him. I’ve had to give my weight loss journey and dreams of sharing my story to the world to God. Yes, He’s given me the dreams and goals, but I still must trust and seek Him daily for instructions on how to fulfill them.

    • Amen, I am trying to seek Him and also I ask for understanding because sometimes it just does not make sense or outside of our comfort zone.

  3. Yes! I had always defined success as a great job, college degree, etc. Until I had my son! Then, the Lord convicted me that I needed to stay home and teach him and raise him in the ways of the Lord…amazing how when we let Him, He changes our view of success and prosperity!

  4. Such an important post. I am learning to stop worrying so much about the end result of what I think success is and just enjoy the ride.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to my Blog

Get the latest posts delivered to your mailbox:

This site is protected by wp-copyrightpro.com