How Do You Measure Success?

How do we measure success?

SCENT youth has grown in the last year or two. We have three church youth groups mixed into one. We have around fifty people showing up on a Friday night. Are we now successful?

I say "not necessarily".

What then is the measure of success? What's the plumb line we use to gauge the success of a ministry or a life?

I think commitment is the barometer by which we measure success.

First there needs to be commitment to Christ. When people's hearts are changing and they're turning to Christ, now there's success. When the lukewarm Christian gets a fire lit under them and begins to boil, that's success.

When a group or a person become committed to the Word of God, that's success. When we're willing to follow His Word, regardless of consequences. When we put off the things of the world because they don't line up with Scripture. When we pass every decision through the pages of scripture, we're committed to God's word. Success is sure to follow.

Thirdly is prayer. I can't say this is my strong point. When God's people are committed to prayer, regardless of any outcome, this is a mark of success.

How committed are you to the lost? Do you care? What are you doing about it? I consider it a success to see a group that's committed to seeking out the lost in order to build the kingdom of God.

Lastly when a person or a group is committed to the Body of Christ, that's success. Look around your church or your group. Is there twenty percent doing eighty percent of the work? Sorry that's not success. When a person is committed to the Body they're using their gifts. If a group of fifty people are just there and not getting "plugged in" to the body there's little success. If you find yourself on the side lines watching the action, that's not success. The amount of participation in a congregation is a measuring tool of where they're at.

Don't be fooled. Things like givings, attendance, and being on the "cutting edge" of the times are not bad. But don't allow those things to be your gauge of success. Look at the commitment of yourself and those around you, then ask are we successful?



One last thought...

It's been said (I don't know by who) "the appropriate goal is not success, but excellence." I agree with this one hundred percent. Let's set a goal of achieving excellence, and not merely settling for success!