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Measuring Success
Presenter: David Qualls
Location: Three Angels Seventh-day Adventist Church, Owasso, OK
Delivery: 2006-12-23
Publication: Last GenerationTheology.org 2007-01-02 16:46Z
Type: Sermon
URL: http://www.greatcontroversy.org/gco/ser/qua-meas.php
Introduction
There are two maxims or famous sayings that pertain to our discussion today, two proverbs or axioms.
Maxim one: “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that is counted counts” (Albert Einstein)
Maxim two: “God has not called us to success, but to faithfulness.”
There is a great deal of Bible truth in these two sayings. Whether in our personal experience, our families, or in the life of the church, these two maxims demand that we take a closer look at how we conduct our lives and how we measure them. What I share with you today has been a growing burden on my heart for quite some time. It pertains to our personal lives as well as what happens in the church at large. The message title is, “Measuring Success.” How do you measure success? The answer is not as easy as one might think.
The world measures success by the numbers. You know. How large is your bank account? How many shoes do you own? How many new members does your organization have? What is your growth rate?
But should the church use the same methods? And since we are called to faithfulness and not to success, how do we measure it?
How do you measure faithfulness? What are the benchmarks, the goals, the stats? What is the measuring device, the scale, the point of reference, the target? It’s like measuring love or happiness—a challenge indeed. The medical profession has come up with a measuring scale for pain. They will ask you to quantify your level of pain based on a 0-10 scale. It seems to work quite well.
But measuring faithfulness—that is quite a challenge. Maybe that explains why so many churches fall back into the trap of relying on the numbers as an indicator of real progress. But friends, we have a measuring device that is fully capable of allowing us to evaluate and measure the status and progress of our lives or of the life of the church. God’s Word is full of explicit counsel and principles by which we can precisely and accurately measure faithfulness.
We are surrounded by people making claims. This is true in both the world and the church. Advertisers make claims about their products, organizations make claims about themselves, churches and pastors make claims. This forces us to evaluate to see if these claims are true. So how do we measure success? Or should we even be measuring it? Have we not been called to faithfulness and not necessarily to success?
History of Success versus Faithfulness
Let us briefly trace through sacred history and see what God considers true success and how it relates to being faithful.
Cain and Abel
We start near the beginning with the story of Cain and Abel. Was Abel successful or was he faithful? It is only in hindsight that most of us would say that Abel was “successful.” But most assuredly he was faithful.
Noah
Next we look to Noah. Was Noah successful? Measuring by the numbers would give the wrong answer. By most people’s standard, Noah was a dismal failure. Doubtless, most church growth experts of today would counsel us to steer clear of that old fanatic out there building a boat on dry land; it’s just not a good way to grow a church.
My friends, Noah was not successful, Noah was faithful. It is interesting to note that Noah was very much in the minority before the crisis. After the crisis he and his family were in the majority.
Moses and the Levites at the Foot of Mt. Sinai
You remember the story there in Exodus 32 where Aaron led the church in the wilderness (Israel—Acts 7:38) into false forms of worship. What did they do? They used culturally relevant props and methods to help the people in their worship of “the Lord” (Exodus 32:5, last part).
Do you think Moses was popular when he came down off of Mt. Sinai and confronted the people and Aaron, rebuking them for their compromise with sin? How would we measure the success of Aaron versus Moses on that day? Aaron was successful, but Moses was faithful.
Gideon
Perhaps one of the most dramatic Bible stories of success versus faithfulness is the story of Gideon. Thankfully, he achieved success but only by way of his being faithful. But note the process by which success came.
He gets a good start with 32,000 men. But God evaluates differently than man. God sends the men of Gideon through a two-phase shaking process that reduces their numbers down to 300. That’s less than one in 100 (which reminds me of a quote from the pen of inspiration (Last Day Events, p. 172)).
Only then after reducing their numbers down to a small amount, could God bless them with true success. Throughout this process, was Gideon successful or was he faithful? God was changing their thinking from a success-oriented outlook to a faithfulness-oriented one.
I wonder how many church leaders today would have the courage to follow the Gideon church growth plan? In today’s climate, would he have been rewarded for his success after losing over 99% of his followers just before going into battle? What would our opinion of him be?
Jesus
And then there is another person we should look at. Let us come down to the event that nearly the whole world is celebrating this weekend, the incarnation and life of Christ our Savior. Was Jesus successful or was He faithful? Of course, in hindsight we would naturally say that He was successful. But were we living during that time, what would our evaluation be?
Born in a dirty stable of poor parents, without fanfare, wealth, or fame. Raised in a humble home, in a small and despised town. He gathered quite a following, but went down in shame, contempt, and ruin with virtually all forsaking Him. Would we call that success? At that time?
At one point, Jesus, after faithfully preaching the word, felt compelled to ask His own disciples if they were going to also leave Him. This was just after a large number of His followers found His message and lifestyle less than attractive to their ideas and had walked away from Him.
“From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:66, 67). By the end of His earthly ministry, His numbers had dwindled down to a paltry few. Or so it seemed. Was Jesus successful, or was He faithful?
What Faithfulness Looks Like
So how should we measure success? How is it that we should evaluate our own spiritual life? How should we measure the health of a church? By the number of baptisms, the number of members, the amount of tithe and offerings?
If we were to only look at a slice in time, is it possible that a church that is shrinking in numbers could actually be more faithful than a church that is boasting of rapid growth? (Remember Gideon.) Don’t get me wrong. Most of us desire growth in numbers. Baptisms and new members are a wonderful thing. But let us remember that not all growth is necessarily good.
Someone on a junk food diet will experience rapid, easy growth. But is it desirable growth? Is it healthy growth?
A church that feeds its members a spiritual mixture of good food and junk food may experience exhilarating growth, but is that truly desirable for the long-term health of the body of Christ? Compromising the message by mixing it with worldly methods is a sure-fire way to achieve popularity among a large class, but is it the way that God has ordained for His church in these solemn last days? The cloud of faithful witnesses across the span of sacred history is looking down to our times; to the end-time remnant church. Will this church be faithful to the point of allowing God to bring history to a close?
Are we being faithful or are we being successful?
If you hear about a church, a ministry, or an individual that is apparently experiencing wonderful success with rapid growth, many baptisms, and exciting things happening, what should you think? Should we take it at face value and rejoice that God is working so mightily through them?
It would be nice to be able to do that. But in this day and age, we cannot afford to accept these seemingly wonderful reports without some accountability. And so we have to ask, Is that church really preaching the truth? Are they upholding the standards? Are they faithfully declaring all the counsel of God? How do we know? In today’s climate, we must ask the questions. We must test the spirits to see if they are truly of God (1 John 4:1).
Measuring Faithfulness
So what does faithfulness look like? There are several Bible principles we can examine. We could call them measurements. Using these measurements will help us determine whether a church, pastor, or organization is more interested in being successful or in being faithful.
Measurement 1
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve Me (Psalms 101:6).
A faithful person will walk in the perfect way of God. There is no compromise of principle in the way of God. That is our first measurement.
Measurement 2
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies (Proverbs 14:5).
A faithful person will live by a strict code of integrity and honesty. He will not soft-pedal the truth, but will speak it with boldness. He will not hide behind a mask or pretend to be something he is not.
Measurement 3
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6, KJV).
A faithful person or church will not boast of themselves or their great accomplishments or abilities. Instead, they will give the glory to God. A faithful church or individual will not walk in the sparks of their own kindling (Isaiah 50:11). Instead, they will rely upon the power of God for their efficiency.
Instead of congratulating themselves, God’s faithful will recognize God’s message to the Laodicean church; a message that is short on compliments. God’s faithful leaders will join in that message in calling for the Divine prescription contained therein (Revelation 3:18-22).
Measurement 4
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10).
A faithful person or church will be faithful in the small things as well as the large. If it’s in God’s word; if it is a matter of principle, then the faithful person will not ignore it.
Measurement 5
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:26, 27).
God’s faithful servants will declare all the counsel of God. They will not shun the unpopular truths, but will courageously rebuke, exhort, preach, and teach all that God has commanded.
There is no room for preaching smooth things with the faithful follower of Christ. They will call sin by its right name. They will speak not only of evangelism (a safe topic among most church leaders), but also of the need for revival and reformation.
Furthermore, a sure sign of a faithful church is that that church will put a special emphasis on present truth. It will not be a generic kind of Christianity they preach; it will be sound doctrine that addresses the sins and needs of that particular generation.
As part of this area, a faithful church will put forth a consistent message. The programs, social events, musical selections, activities, methods, choice of speakers, musicians, and the lives of the church leaders will all be consistent with the high standard of truth that church professes to teach.
Measurement 6
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
A faithful church will be doing two things. They will care for the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden. But they will also keep themselves unspotted from the world. All too often, a church will be lacking in one of these two key ingredients. They may be caring, generous, and bighearted, but if they are careless and permissive in the ways of worldliness, they are lacking. They have failed the measurement of faithfulness.
Yes, they may be experiencing success, but are they faithful?
A faithful church will not mix the sacred and the common. It will not offer up strange fire in the worship of God. You will remember the story of Nadab and Abihu, ministers in the sanctuary, leading out in the worship services of the people (Leviticus 10; Numbers 3). They offered up common fire in place of God’s appointed means. This is a symbol of the mixing of worldly, human methods in the divine worship of God. It may be pleasing to the natural heart; it may bring success, but it also brings death. The faithful will shun the offering of strange fire.
Measurement 7
By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
Last but not least is the test of true love that the faithful will have for one another. This is an identifying mark of the faithful. How do we treat each other? How do we treat our fellow human beings?
These are just seven measures of faithfulness. We could add more, but this will suffice in many cases. Apply these measurements the next time you hear success-oriented claims from a church, a pastor, or a ministry. Hopefully, you fill find them faithful and not just successful.
True Success By Way of Faithfulness
The fact of the matter is this. True success is what God wants for us. But it must come by way of faithfulness and not by focusing on being successful. Be faithful and leave the results with God. He will take care of that part. We needn’t worry about the results.
Now that, my friend, takes genuine faith. Leaving the results with God is no easy task. Beware of the success-oriented language coming out of churches and organizations. Instead, look for faithfulness-oriented language. Success versus faithfulness-oriented language is a powerful clue as to the spiritual condition of that church or organization.
Conclusion
The following three quotes are powerfully relevant to this topic:
If you lower the standard in order to secure popularity and an increase of numbers, and then make this increase a cause of rejoicing, you show great blindness. If numbers were evidence of success, Satan might claim the pre-eminence; for in this world his followers are largely in the majority. It is the degree of moral power—that is a test of—prosperity. It is the virtue, intelligence, and piety of the people composing our churches, not their numbers, that should be a source of joy and thankfulness (Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 31, 32).
God would be better pleased to have six thoroughly converted to the truth than to have sixty make a profession and yet not be truly converted (Gospel Workers, p. 369).
While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 46). [Note: Our job is not to uproot the tares, but at least we should make sure we are planting good seed.].
These three quotes help put things into perspective. The last quote above is interesting and informative. Do we realize that Satan is an evangelist? That he is trying to win people into the same church that we are trying to win folks into? And he’s quite successful.
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? [Didn’t we plant many churches and baptize hundreds of new members into the church?] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23).
Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.... And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last (Luke 13:23, 24, 30).
One day there will be a reversal; an overturning. Those that are first in the eyes of man will be last and those who are last will be first. In the day of crisis, the minority who are faithful will become the majority with God.
And so we find that our two maxims apply to us today.
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that is counted counts.
God has not called us to success, but to faithfulness.
Are you known as a successful person? Or are you known as a faithful person? Is your church known as a successful church? Or is your church known as a faithful church?
Success or faithfulness, which will it be? GCO
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