THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS

EPHESIANS 4:1-13

Pastor Rick Jackson

How do you measure success? Would a Heisman award, a successful pro-football career, a lucrative multi-media (movies, television, etc.) career and a mansion in California make you a success? Or would 2 divorces, a murder trial, and currently waiting for his trial on armed robbery and kidnapping charges void that?

It;s not an easy answer is it? Even when a life is over you never know what secrets can come out years later that may exonerate a person or incriminate them. But if you, were to look at your own life, right now, up to this moment, would you consider yourself a success? The Bible will give us some help in measuring ourselves.

I. ELIMINATE THE WRONG MEASURES

1. Riches are a wrong measure for many reasons [Ps. 49:6-9, Lk. 12:16-21]]

2. Troubles, sorrows, & misfortune are not necessarily a measure of failure [Is. 53:3, Job]

3. Others are a wrong measure of success [II Cor. 10:12]

II. ACCENTUATE THE RIGHT MEASURES

1. A life of spiritual growth & development [II Pt. 3:18]

It is not egotism to be able to say, "I understand the Bible better now than I did 5 years ago"

2. A life lived for the good of others [Phil. 1:23-27]

3. A life lived for Christ [Mt. 5:10-16, Eph. 4:13-16]

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."

III. DO IT NOW!

1. Examine your salvation [II Cor. 13:5, 6:2]

2. Ask God to examine you [Ps. 139:23-24]

3. Deal with what you find [I Cor. 11:31-32, I Jn. 1:9]