“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
To be a success in life you must be able to accomplish whatever goal you happen to set for yourself. Success has the potential to become egocentric in that you do things for your own notoriety; for your own sake and not necessarily for anyone else, though certainly not always. Pride and arrogance CAN become enemies of success if they are allowed to be. Achieving success on any level for the betterment of humankind is admirable and also desirable. This must be kept in mind, so you seek success for the right reason(s).
To be of value means to be useful. It can mean a few other things, but for my purposes “useful” fits the bill. It is commonly used to indicate that something or someone provides a benefit, or significance, and is not always assigned to monetary worth.
While it is true that a benefit of success can be that it is useful as well, being useful as an individual can have a positive influence on all who are touched by one’s usefulness.
The quote on top isn’t tied to spirituality per se, but can be fashioned in such a way as to edify believers. Matthew 10:31 states that believers in Christ are of more value than the sparrows of the field. Hence, we are of great value. As we spread the Gospel the words of God enhance the value of the receiver.
It would seem that just as trust is linked to faith, so success is linked to value. When a person is of value then their words and actions become more important. Think of Paul or Peter as just two examples of men of value who were successful in what they did, though it never translated into financial gain. Many times just the opposite. Be a person of value to those around you. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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