It’s 4H time around my house. That time of year when my 3 children work fevorishly for the big prize… grand champion. A prize that is often illusive because there is but one grand champion. Though they work hard and do their personal best, they may or may feel like the best… they may or may not be the grand champion. I’d like to be able to say that they have come to grips with this and are completely satisfied with doing their personal best, regardless of the final prize. However, they measure their success against the very best.
As they work on photography, scrapbooking, woodworking, modelcraft, and cake decorating, visions of ribbons and prizes dance in their heads. They see themselves as grand champions. They dream of the accolades and the praise. They work hard toward that prize, confident they will win. I seriously doubt if the thought ever crosses their mind that they may not bring home the grand champion ribbon. That big fancy ribbon is their measure of success.
They are 4Hers and I am a writer, and yet, I see reflections of myself in them. I write because I cannot not write. I write to put on paper the words that consume my thoughts. I write because I dream of one day being recognized for my art. And, when I write, I dream of one day having the title of “New York Times Bestseller” next to my name. That title has become my measure of success.
…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31
When I read 1 Corinthians 10:31, I realize my focus is wrong… my measure of success is skewed. When I write for the prize, I write for me. I do it for the praise, accolades, and title for me… for what will elevate me. I write for my glory, not His.
It’s only when I change my measure of success to write for the glory of God that the focus comes off of me and on to the One who created me to write. It is in that moment that my writing becomes all about Him and none about me. My measure of success becomes His fame, not my own.
I think my 4Hers and I need a reminder that whatever we do, we must do it all for His glory… may this be our new measure of success!
QUESTION: What is your measure of success as you write? Please comment below and let us know!
* Image credit: Kendall Conner (Creation Swap)
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