Definition of Success

I. What's your definition for success?

Luke 12:13-21.

II. Jesus tells a parable.

A. We have a rich man (v.16).

In those days, wealth wasn't measured by how much money you had. You couldn't depend on money keeping a consistent value. Wealth was measured by possessions. This man was rich because of the ground he owned. The Bible says "it produced plentifully. It was good ground that made good crops.

B. The rich man had more than he knew what to do with. Verse 17 tells us he had run out of room for storing his crops. So, he decided to build more barns to store his possessions. He was confident that everything was going to go according to plan.

C. As he thought about this, he started talking to himself (v.19).

"Boy, you've done good. “I’ve got all this stuff I've been accumulating for years. "I've got so much stuff; I can just kick back and take it easy. “No more worries, I'll just sit back and spend the rest of my life enjoying the things I've done”. “Just one more harvest, and I'll have it made."

D. There was no doubt in his mind he had succeeded. He had done it all himself. He had "my barns, my crops, my goods. “He had it all. He had reached the top. He was just a few days away from having everything he wanted.

III. Let's Modernize This Parable.

IV. What's Your Definition of Success?

1. For most of my life, this was my definition for success in life.

Get an education. Work hard, play hard, and party hard. Get as many toys as I can. Build a big retirement fund. Then, someday I could retire and enjoy my toys and bank account. Everybody would look at me and say, "He is successful." One day they could walk by my coffin and say, "He sure was successful."

B. You make it sound like it's wrong to have stuff. You make it sound like it's wrong to have an education, a good job, and money in the bank. NO!! It's not necessarily wrong to have possessions, to have an education, or to have money in the bank. After all, Eccl 10:19b “But money answers all things James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. God is the source of goodness and His character never changes. “God gives us everything we have, so possessions, in themselves, are not wrong. Don’t let the thought of possessions being bad cause you to miss the meaning of this parable.

V. It's wrong for possessions to have us.

A. Jesus says in verse 15: "one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.“Let’s make sure we get the problem of the man in the parable. The problem isn't their possessions, it's their heart. They've spent their entire lives with their heart focused on the wrong thing. Their life has consisted of one thing, get more stuff. They've sold their souls to the god of materialism.

C. We all know people like this. You may be one of these people. There is room for change TODAY. The bottom line in life is your stuff and your bank account. Nothing stands in your way to get more AND EVEN MORE. Not family, not friends, not church, not anything. You've accepted the world's definition of success and you do everything to make it. You may get it all but that can't cure your problem. And you have a big problem, IF THAT IS YOU OR ME.

VI. The Problem is found in verse 20.

Possessions and success are only temporary. One day all that stuff won't matter anymore. One day all that success will not matter anymore. One day, everything here will be gone. One day, we will leave this world. The statistics don't lie: 1 out of every 1 person dies. One day our soul will be required of us. We will stand before the Lord Almighty and give an account of our life. He's not going to judge us according to what we had in this life. He's not going to judge us according to our place in this life. He's going to judge us according to what we did with our heart. What are you doing with your heart? Are you giving it to the pursuit of more and more stuff? Are you giving it to the acquiring of more and more money? Have you dedicated your life to the god of materialism?

VII. God called this man a "fool" (v.20).

Read Matt 19:24.

Wealth can become a spiritual obstacle when people trust it, love it more than God, or refuse to surrender it to Him.

A. What he did was foolish. He wasted his life. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). He gained the whole world but lost his soul. His whole life was focused on himself and he had no time for God. But when his life was over, he found himself before the very person he had ignored. Read Hebrew 9:27. We prepare for every appointment in life; we must also prepare to meet GOD.

VIII. What's Your Own Definition of Success?

What's the most important thing in your life right now? That's where your heart is. That's what you're pursuing for success.

B. Is the most important thing in your life Jesus Christ? If not, then you are living a foolish life. One day, everything you have is going to be gone. Somebody else is going to have it. And you'll stand before God with nothing in your hands and nothing in your heart.

C. Have you made room for a relationship with Jesus Christ? You may have plenty of toys and stuff and money. But the greatest thing you can have is a relationship with Jesus Christ. True success is a relationship with Christ and living for Him. True success is living for all eternity with Him in heaven.

Supporting Texts: Joshua 1:8, Matthew 25:21, 3 John 1:2, Mark 8:36

THE WRONG SCOREBOARD

Hook: If you died tonight, what would be on your scoreboard? House? Cars? Followers? Title? We've been keeping score on the wrong board.

A. The world has a definition of success: More money, bigger title, larger platform, etc.

B. But Jesus says: "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36

C. Big Truth: God measures success and faithfulness, not fame.

II. 3 Definitions of Success That Are Killing Us

A. Success = Wealth: Luke 12:15. Life isn't about abundance of possessions.

Wealth can't buy peace or heal.

B. Success = Popularity: John 12:43. People are praising you, but is God praised?

C. Success = Position: I Samuel 15

Position without purpose is pressure.

God's definition of success is rooted in obedience, and evidenced by the following four Biblical marks:

1. Success = Obedience to the Word – Joshua 1:8

God's definition of success is simple. Success is remaining in the Book, in communication with Him. If there's something He last said to you and you're not obeying it, you're not successful.

2. Success = Faithfulness Over Your Assignment – Matthew 25:21

If your goal is simply to be famous, or to simply amass wealth, you're doing it wrong. God said FAITHFUL, not FAME, RICH, or SERVANT. The question is, are you being faithful in Douglasville (or wherever you are), over that small job, small ministry, or small business?

3. Success = Wholeness in All Areas – 3 John 1:2

We all love to see prosperity in our families, in our bodies, souls, and spirits, right? God desires your wholeness, not just your riches. You can be wealthy, broken, and miserable. That's not true success.

4. Success = Impact That Outlives You

Matthew 6:19-20

Success on this earth dies with us. In heaven, what are we building that will be of value? Are we impacting kids? Are we impacting souls? Are we making disciples?

How Jesus Modeled True Success

Jesus gave His life for us, and that was the perfect example of success.

Jesus had no house. He had no money. He had no title. Only 12 men followed Him. One even betrayed Him.

According to the world, He was a total failure. By the age of 33, He died broke and naked on a cross. By Heaven's standards, He was an overwhelming success. He died accomplishing what the Father sent Him to do. He saved the world.

It is our life's goal to fulfill the purpose God gave us.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Stop trying to let the world define you, and let God define you.

God doesn't want you to be the best in the world, He wants you to be the best you in order to shine and give glory to Him.