HOW TO BE A REAL SUCCESS

Dr. Richard J. Henderson April 2, 2006

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Psalm 119:9-16 (responsive)
John 12:20-33

Introduction

We have friends who live on Grand Traverse Bay. They have a huge lot with a massive home that runs along the shoreline facing the bay. The view from the living room is spectacular. There are two boats tied to the dock out front; the third is too big (it's a cabin cruiser) and has to be kept in the marina. Both parents and all the kids have nice cars.

As we were walking around his property, I said to my friend, "This is really a fabulous place!" He turned to me and said, "To tell you the truth, I am on the road all the time working to pay for this. I rarely have time to enjoy it."

We look at him as a success; he has it all. Yet, when we talk to him we discover he spends a lot of lonely nights in out-of-town hotels waiting for meetings. As we drove back home I wondered to myself, "If that is success, is it worth it?"

I

In our scripture today Jesus says, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." You and I know what that glory looks like; it is a crown made of thorns pressed into his head, nails hammered into his hands, and the thud of the cross into its hole. That's being glorified? What kind of glory is that? Jesus certainly has a different definition of success.

Later Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." We know that he means that literally; he will be lifted up from the earth and hoisted up on a cross. There he will die a long, slow, horrible death. Is that a successful life?

This man has influenced more lives, affected more individuals and groups than anyone in history.

II

There is Donald Trump's success and there is Mother Teresa's success; there is Bill Gates' success and Martin Luther King's success. One success centers on money, influence, accumulating more and bigger, and having popularity; this success centers on self.

The other success risks serious disease, spends most days picking up dying people from the streets, cares for poor people as they take their last breath. This success risks life, spends time in jail, faces attempts on his life, is stabbed, has people try to burn down his house and harm his family.

There is success and there is success. There is the power of authorities to make laws that affect tens of thousands of people. There is also the power of the person who refuses to give up her seat on the bus and changes the lives of people forever.

There are people who are considered successes, and there are people who live successfully.

III

Jesus defined success - it's almost the opposite of what we learn from living in the world. We've learned to get more - cars, houses, boats, gadgets and toys. Someday, if we do it right, we will be able to have servants look after us. Jesus tells us, "Whoever wants to be first, must be last of all and servant of all." He tells us, "I came not to be served, but to serve."

In this world we learn to enjoy life, to make life easier for ourselves, so we have twelve-way electric seats in our cars, and seat warmers with thermostats wherever we go. We get appliances that take the effort out of work. We try to make life easier and better. And Jesus says, "If you love your life you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake you will save it." He says, "Take up your cross and follow me."

A dramatic shift happened in American society in the 1980's. It was the era of the royal presidency. Remember Nancy Reagan's $50,000 dresses? National attention shifted from idealism and service to wealth, money, and success. People became more interested in making money and being considered successful than in caring for others.

I don't think it is a coincidence that during that time new magazines were created titled: Money, Self, Shape, and More.

During that period of time a dramatic decline began in people enrolling in theological seminaries. Seminary presidents said more young people who might have chosen seminary were going instead to law school, medical school or getting their MBA's.

During that period our culture turned from others to self.

IV

The path of Christ is not easy. In fact it is too difficult for any of us to travel without the help of God.

To be a Christian doesn't mean we have to die; we weren't called to be Christ, but to be like Christ. To be Christian we don't have to have our lives threatened, or walk the streets of Calcutta, or be thrown in jail.

But we do have to trust in God. We have to take seriously the tough words of Christ. We have to get outside of ourselves - our basic outlook in life is toward those who are hurting, who are not treated justly, and who suffer in this life. To be Christian means to be compassionate in everything we do.

It is really a question of what we put first in our lives. Is it me, my things, people's opinion of me, or is it God's will - and God's will not just for my life, but for the world. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of heaven." First of all, try to do God's will.

Conclusion

Leo Tolstoy once wrote a parable about a king who was unhappy. We wouldn't think of him as unhappy - he was the most powerful man in the land, he had more wealth than anyone else, he could get just about anything he wanted. But he was unhappy.

So he sent his servants out to find someone who was truly happy, in order to learn from them. He said to his servants, "Find a person who is truly happy and bring me back his shirt."

The servants went searching throughout the kingdom. The found wealthy people who were in an unhappy marriage, successful people whose children were always getting in trouble, people who seemed to be happy but hated their jobs.

Finally one servant came back to the king. He said, "I have found the happiest man in the kingdom!" The king shouted with joy, "At last! Now, bring me his shirt!"

"I'm sorry, your majesty, but this man doesn't have a shirt, he is too poor to own one"

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2006