Should We Pursue Success or Faithfulness?

Type of Doctrine: Debated

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

-1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ESV

Why Does It Matter?

As Christians, and churches, we are often faced with a dilemma: will we pursue success or faithfulness? There are times when we are personally, and corporately, tempted to pursue success at the expense of faithfulness. But can we pursue both? This article will explore some of the different views and relevant Scriptures.

This is challenging issue to triage since it is a debated issue. Many would consider it a secondary or tertiary issue. However, it could undoubtedly venture into a primary issue (especially in the case of Jesus's story in Matthew 7 where people seemed to be successful in working for Jesus but they didn't actually know him).

What Is It?

Should we pursue success or faithfulness? First, let's define the terms. In this article, I'm using "success" to mean the appearance of success in the world (e.g., numbers, metrics, money, possessions, fame, approval, positions, power, etc.). I'm using "faithfulness" to mean believing and doing the things that God wants you to believe and do when God wants you to do them.

We often have a worldly definition of success. Jesus isn't looking for workers who produce numbers but who don't actually know him. Consider this section of Scripture: "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'" (Matt. 7:22-23). Imagine it: one day people will stand before God listing spiritual numbers, actions, accomplishments, and results while Jesus says, "I never knew you." In other words, it's possible to have the appearance of fruit and success (even spiritual!) without having a true relationship with Christ.

Moreover, Jesus had some exceptionally clear teaching on how the world views his followers. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me" (John 15:18-21). Yikes.

Regarding this subject, I can think of three main options:

(1) Pursue faithfulness

(2) Pursue success

(3) Pursue both

I've heard some say that we should pursue faithfulness and fruitfulness. However, how is fruit defined? The same way the world defines success? Is that really what Jesus meant? Or did Jesus mean fruit such as good works, love, the fruit of the Spirit, and the like? We must be clear on the definition of "fruit". Yes, fruit will appear in the lives of all true believers. But Jesus also warns that the world will hate you (John 15:18-21). He also warns against doing things to be seen by others.

1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

-Matthew 6:1-4 ESV

Is it a false dichotomy? In other words, can we pursue both faithfulness and success at the same time? I would argue that this may be possible, at times, but it could end in disaster as well.

Here is the problem: there are times when we will have to choose between the two. There are times in all of our lives when we will have to choose between producing a success and appearing successful or remain faithful.

Think about the outcomes and appearance of many of the significant people in Scripture:

• John the Baptist lost his followers to Jesus and was beheaded for calling out sin in a leader.

• Most of the original apostles suffered and were martyred.

• Paul suffered greatly, was thrown in prison, and was martyred. Many of his churches ran into significant issues.

• Jesus himself ended by being brutally murdered.

Does this look successful? Probably not in the world's eyes. However, they were all faithful. It was successful in God's eyes. Mysteriously, in God's providence, he has used events that looked like failures to be some of the biggest successes in his kingdom.

What would have happened if these people sought worldly success, numbers, and image rather than faithfulness when they were faced with the fork in the road? John the Baptist wouldn't have lost his head, the apostles wouldn't have been martyred, Paul wouldn't have suffered, and we wouldn't have a Lord and Savior who was crucified in our place.

What would have happened if these people sought worldly success, numbers, and image rather than faithfulness when they were faced with the fork in the road? John the Baptist wouldn't have lost his head, the apostles wouldn't have been martyred, Paul wouldn't have suffered, and we wouldn't have a Lord and Savior who was crucified in our place.

What does Scripture say? Here are a few Scriptures related to this issue:

• [Mat 7:22-23 ESV] 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

• [Mat 11:11 ESV] 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

• [Mat 18:1-4 ESV] 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

• [Mat 20:20-28 ESV] 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

• [Mat 25:21 ESV] 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

• [Jhn 15:18-21 ESV] 18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

• [Jhn 15:16-17 ESV] 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

• [1Co 4:1-2 ESV] 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

• [2Ti 4:7 ESV] 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Thus, Scripture seems to be focused on faithfulness rather than success. In Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome Kent Hughes writes,

As Barbara and I searched the Scriptures, we found no place where it says that God's servants are called to be successful. Rather, we discovered our call is to be faithful. "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). It is imperative that we fully understand this principle and take it to heart if we are to escape the seductive clutches of the success syndrome.[1]

Yes, at times, the Lord may bless us with success as we are faithful. However, other times, we may not appear to be successful even though we are faithful. We are not in charge of the outcomes or the fruit. As we are faithful to God, we will produce fruit, but it may be good works done in secret or results that are not visible to the world (or even ourselves in our lifetime!).

Still, there are general principles that we may follow that may help us in finding success in accomplishing goals (Proverbs is very helpful in this endeavor!). But, we are ultimately aiming for faithfulness to God. We want to stand before God someday and be deemed a faithful servant. What good is it to be a worldly, temporal success and an eternal failure? Listen to Jesus: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matt. 16:26a).

Therefore, perhaps a redefinition of success is what is needed. From a biblical standpoint, it seems that success is faithfulness (regardless of the outcomes).

Application

Let's seek to be faithful to God and to his revealed will. Whether we experience success or not (in a worldly sense), let's examine our hearts. Is there some other reason we want the appearance of success?

Where Can I Learn More?

End Notes:

[1] Kent and Barbara Hughes, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008), 35. The emphasis in the quote is found in the original.