Friday, July 12, 2024

July 12th - A Successful Life

A Successful Life - what does it look like?

I like Ralph Waldo Emerson's definition of success…

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Humanity too often measures success by power and wealth, but Jesus said this about power and wealth.

"What good is it for a human to gain the whole world, yet forfeits the soul? Or what can a human give in exchange for the soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each human according to what they have done." (Matthew 16:26-27) 

Worldly success is "meaningless" says the writer of Ecclesiastes.

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

His advice was to try to find satisfaction in your work, and  "enjoy life with the wife, whom you love" - it has worked for me!

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil… Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love...For this is your lot in life…” (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 9:9) 

December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His ...