Faithfulness not Success

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2

God measures success in terms of faithfulness.

Clarence Jordan was a man of unusual abilities and commitment. He had two Ph.D’s, one in agriculture and one in Greek and Hebrew. He was so gifted, he could have chosen to do anything he wanted. He chose to serve the poor. In the 1940s, he founded a farm in Americus, Georgia, and called it Koinonia Farm. It was a community for poor people of all skin colors. As you might guess, such an idea did not go over well in the deep South of the '40s.

Ironically, much of the resistance came from good church people who followed the laws of segregation as much as the other folk in town. The town people tried everything to stop Clarence. They tried boycotting him and slashing workers' tires when they came to town. Over and over, for fourteen years, they tried to stop him.

Finally, in 1954, a group of people had enough of Clarence Jordan. They decided to get rid of him once and for all. They came one night with guns and torches and set fire to every building on Koinonia Farm but Clarence's home, which they riddled with bullets. The next day, a reporter came out to see what remained of the farm. He found Clarence in the field, hoeing and planting.

“I heard the awful news,” he called to Clarence, “and I came out to do a story on the tragedy of your farm closing.” Clarence just kept on hoeing and planting. The reporter said in a haughty voice, “Well, Dr. Jordan, you got two of them Ph.D’s and you've but fourteen years into this farm, and there's nothing left of it at all. Just how successful do you think you've been?” Clarence stopped hoeing, turned toward the reporter with his penetrating blue eyes, and said quietly but firmly, “About as successful as the Cross. Sir, I don't think you understand us. What we are about is not success but faithfulness. We're staying. Good day.”

Success in the world’s eyes means having many possessions and having a well-known reputation. But in God’s eyes, these things mean nothing! In fact, only one time in the Bible did He use the word “success” yet almost 100 times the word faithful or faithfulness is used.

As we saw yesterday, it’s not where God placed you but how you serve Him while you’re there. God isn’t looking for the next great millionaire or public speaker to use; He’s looking for a faithful servant. God can use anyone, but His choicest servants are those who are faithfully serving Him.

Do you desire to be used of God? Sometimes we can read of men like John Newton, Charles Spurgeon, DL Moody, and others, and dream of being used like them. But they were just normal sinners, saved by grace, faithfully serving God when He used them.

Remember, God isn’t looking for success in your life. He’s looking for a humble heart, faithfully serving Him. If you want more responsibility from God, faithfully serve Him in what He’s already given you to do today.