Extra Episode! Quick Conversion on Success

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In a recent episode we got a little off topic but became an awesome conversation about what SUCCESS looks like!+

Have you ever paused to measure the true weight of success? If you're wrestling with the definition of success, particularly from a Christian perspective, this episode is a beacon for those seeking clarity. We wade through the muddy waters of worldly accolades versus the divine fulfillment that comes from following Jesus Christ's example of compassion and service. Drawing from powerful Biblical narratives, we contrast the lure of material prosperity with the call to care for the less fortunate, and ponder how aligning our pursuits with God's will reshapes our understanding of true achievement.

Our conversation takes an unexpected turn with the tale of a simple fisherman, a story that deftly challenges society's conventional success metrics and champions the virtues of contentment and simplicity. We share personal reflections on the uses of wealth and the idea that true success in God's eyes looks strikingly different from the world's view. This thoughtful discussion invites you to reassess your goals and consider whether your life's direction is pointing towards temporal treasures or eternal values. As we explore these themes, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the profound question: what does it really mean to be successful, both in life and in faith?

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
brings me to like just that whole conversation
brings me to the idea.
I had this conversation withsomebody else like how do you
define success?
What is success?
What does that look like,especially for a Christ follower
?

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, I think there's two different.
Yeah, look what is success inthe eyes of God and then within
the concept of the Christianfaith, and then what does
success look like within ourflesh?
You know, the world says youneed to have a nice car, you
need to have a job, you need toWork your whole life, make money
so that then you can sit on abeach and Do whatever you want.

(00:39):
But there are so many examplesin the Bible where people have
nothing and all they're doing isspreading the gospel or they're
taking care of missionaries ordoing whatever they're doing.
But that's definitely the callit the prosperity gospel Message
and that Christians shouldnever be in poverty, and that's

(01:00):
just.
I don't understand that one.
There are verses you can takeout of context that say a
Christian should be, but there'sso many examples throughout the
whole scripture where Peoplehave nothing.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, there's also I mean I guess you say that I
don't know where it's at, butit's red letters, like Jesus
tells you you're blessed to bepoor.
Yeah, you To be a rich fool.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Target for a rich man to get into heaven than it is
for a camel to get through theeye of a needle.
Yeah and so, to Jesus and to God, that that success to me, when
I read the Bible, looks morelike Taking care of orphans and
widows, doing those things thathe's called us to do.
You're not gonna get rich offtaking care of orphans and
widows.
That's not the point You'regiving, and so I think that

(01:44):
looks different.
And so I think now in 2024,living in the world that we do,
there has to be some kind ofbalance there.
But when God does bless us withResources, what do you use
those resources?

Speaker 1 (01:58):
I think success then is measured differently.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Think success is measured differently, because,
hey, to what much is given, muchis Required.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, I think that I really like that.
You recently just shared astory I think this fits of a
fisherman.
Yeah and if fishermen's outfishing for his Daily food and
another guy approaches him islike, why you doing this kind of
like so I can eat?

(02:28):
It's like, why don't you dothis all day long?
And then you could eat and sellit and make money.
And the fisherman was like whywould I do that?
The guy's like well, you would,you would make money and then
you could take that money andyou could hire another Fisherman
and then he would catch fishand then you would sell those
fish and then you could get abigger boat and then you could

(02:49):
take that money, you could buy aprocessing plant and you then
you could take that money andthe there were the fishermen is
like why, why?
Why would I do all that?
And the guy was like well, soyou can sell it, and then you'd
have millions of dollars.
He's like why would I do that?

Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, so you could sit at home and see with your
family and sit on a beach andcatch a Fish for your family and
hang out with them all day andthe fishermen is like I'm
already doing that.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
I think sometimes that concept of success we take
it, we get so hyper focused onit that we lose the concept of
what true success is, even withour own families, and we should
be looking for success with Godin us and not Outside of that.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yeah, I think contentment is is the biggest
word out of that and out ofsuccess.
So, if we can be content withwhat God's given us and there's
times he's gonna give us more,he's gonna allow us to do more
things, but, like it says herein second-test Williams, if it
what it needs to do, though, isit needs to point towards the

(04:02):
Lord, and if it doesn't, thenwhat's the point?
Yeah, because I mean we're allgonna die.
Most, we should all die oncethe rapture happens.
Takes this away on this glory,marvelous, flaming vengeance day
when God Jesus comes back.
Unless that happens in ourlifetime, we're all gonna die.

(04:23):
Can't take any of it with you.
There's no record anywhere inthe Bible that we can take it
with us that are somehow we canconvert.
US dollars into holy dollars.
So I think the contentmentthere and then can continue into
point it back towards Jesus,and I think that can be rewarded

(04:46):
.
Not, it's not the reason we doit, but I think God does reward
that.
Hey, you've been faithful, I'mgonna give you more.
You've been faithful, I'm gonnaallow you to do this.
Now, when we get the big headand we become bribal and say
this is because of me, there'sprobably truth to God saying
alright, well, you're notgetting it anymore.
Yeah, maybe we need anothertrials.
We need to allow you to gothrough more trials to

(05:09):
understand this.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
Now I like that and I think you can.
You can look at the life, oflife of Paul as we read it
through scriptures.
Like he was constantly providedfor, like everywhere he went he
had everything he needed, buthe continued to preach the
gospel and share, even in timesof being locked up.
Yeah like that was some of hisbest ministry time was when he

(05:35):
was in the midst of sitting in ajail cell, he didn't give up on
that concept.
Yeah and he I would venture toguess he found true, like God's,
the only one that can providetrue joy and I think that is
part of what kept Paul going isin the midst of those struggles
he still found true joy, likeGod, still filled him up and

(05:58):
gave him true joy even in themidst of those, because that
relationship Paul had with hisHoly Spirit and Jesus Christ and
the way he shared his testimony.
I think that's what will helpus the two fish community keep
going is to.
You got to stay connected withyour Holy Spirit, with your

(06:19):
brothers and Christ, and we gotto encourage each other and
continue to try and push oneanother.
But you have to stay within thegrasp of Christ in the midst of
doing it.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:30):
I love it I.