In God’s eyes, what is success? ?

Over the next week, we’ll be talking about a subject that’s near and dear to God’s heart… relationships.

Today, I’d like to share with you a conversation I had with God that really taught me about the place of relationships in my life…

One day, while I was taking a walk through a forest in North Carolina, the Lord asked me this question:

“Eric, how do you measure success in ministry?”

• “That’s easy,” I said. “Millions of people whose lives have been changed! Lots of people. Great fruit!”
• “Would you like to know how I measure success?” the Lord asked me.
• “Yes,” I answered.
• “For you, your measure of success is a huge number… How many persons are there in Me?”
• “Three: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
• “Is that a huge number?”
• “No, it’s a small number… but you’re a huge God!”
• “When I created man, how many did I create?”
• “Just one… Adam.”
• “And is that a huge number?”
• “No…”
• “When I created a companion for Adam, how many did I create?”
• “One. Eve…”
• “The way I measure success is not the same as yours, Eric…”

That day, I understood that God’s measure of success is… relationships. If what we’re doing to achieve a “huge” impact breaks or damages relationships, it’s pointless. God loves you and wants you to have good, strong relationships and be in peace with others. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (the Bible, Romans 12:18)

Are you having difficulties in this area? If so, I invite you to pray with me… “Lord, I humbly come before You, believing that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You, that You are the God who hears and answers prayers. Lord, help me to have good, strong relationships with those around me: my family, my friends, my coworkers… I pray that all my relationships are saturated with Your love and Your grace. In Jesus’s powerful name, amen.”

God is a God of relationships, and He passionately cares about the individual…the one. I invite you to listen to this powerful song by Cory Asbury, “Reckless Love,” and the story behind it. Know that God will always leave the 99 to find YOU! (Luke 15:1-7)