Every believer looks forward to hearing these words in the next age: "Well done good and faithful servant." What does it take to be a faithful servant of God? Our default is to think that our faithfulness is measured by the amount of success we attain- the number of people we lead to Christ, the amount of money we give to ministry or the consistency we have in reading the Bible and praying.
As wonderful as these things are, they are not always a measure of our faithfulness. I am a firm believer that faith will lead to good works. James 2:14 tells us, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" Faith in Christ will empower us to do good works, but it cannot bring us to become perfect, not because God's grace is not enough but because of our immense brokenness.
What that simply means is that even if you surrender all you are to Jesus Christ, you will fail. There will be days that you won't be able to read your Bible. You will lose your temper. Your business will go through tough times. We are all prone to fail, but that in no way means that our pursuit of Christ is to no avail.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says this: ""But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." God's promise is that even in our greatest moments of weakness and in our direst failures, He is sufficient. Things may not always go your way, but that doesn't mean your labour in the Lord is in vain.
Let us remember that God measures success in different ways because His ways are completely different from ours and are completely higher in every way. Just as when Jesus died in the cross two thousand plus years ago. What appeared to be an utter failure of a great revival we now know to be the greatest miracle ever to happen in history that has now redeemed all who believe.
God does not always look at the outward appearance, the numbers, the results, or the return on investment. He looks at the heart, the obedience and the willingness to trust in His ways at all times. If you've failed miserably in life, ministry, career or relationships, welcome to the club. Let God's grace be ever sufficient and believe that one day God will say those words - "Well done good and faithful servant."
