“Double the ‘C’, double the ‘S’ and you will always have success”.

Whenever I hear the word success, I can’t help but think about this helpful little saying I learned from an episode of Full House. My spelling woes of the word success ended that day as the clever saying became etched into my brain. All I had to do to spell it correctly was follow the process laid out for me in the saying; double the c and double the s. It made complete sense.

As I have gotten older, I’ve realized that achieving what the word actually means is not as simple a process. Along those lines, the process to achieve success really depends upon how each individual defines the term. Those definitions seem to come from a mixture of cultural and personal life experience.

For instance, someone who grew up in a wealthy suburb may view a successful life as one with financial freedom, occasional charitable giving and a beautiful home. What was modeled for them in childhood is repeated and confirmed by the American culture which encourages this “dream”.

On the other side, one who grew up in a broken home within a broken community may see a successful life as “getting out”. That may look exactly like the above scenario, or it could simply be building a life in a healthier environment than the one that individual was raised in. “Rags to riches” tales are a staple of American culture.

Sadly though, the outcome of a seemingly successful life routinely fails those who have gone all-in to capture what their culture and personal experiences have defined for them. While others may call them successful, these victims may secretly try and find a way out of the trap they have fallen into.

We infrequently question what success really is. Thus, we are lead astray by broken methods of measuring a successful life like dollar signs and Twitter followers. If we begin to deeply analyze how we define success, most of us would be led to the same exact place no matter the culture, or personal experience. A place in which we see success not as a way to prove individual worth, but rather as something in which we were reborn into through Jesus Christ.

God’s standard of success is untouchable for every human. Nobody is “good” enough. The very best of what we can do alone is like “filthy rags” to Him. It is beyond our ability to be successful enough to earn God’s love or acceptance. In the ways of our world, this is how things often work. If we are successful at something, we are accepted by others. Luckily, God is not like this with us.

Knowing we’re incapable of the success he’s looking for, which is a sinless life, he decided to send Jesus, his only son to live that successful and perfect life for us only to be brutally crucified for sins that he did not commit. Who committed them? We did.

This suffering he endured was needed so that God could still maintain his justice while granting grace to sinners. Through this, the gift of life through Jesus’s life, death and resurrection was offered to all.

As our culture continues to measure success solely in quantifiable terms, I pray you’ll see through it. Success isn’t about what we can do. It’s about what’s been done for us. It’s about how we can live now that we’ve been reborn and empowered by someone outside ourselves. True success isn’t ours, it’s the Heavenly Father’s.

Therefore, we can live free of trying to measure up to cultural standards of success. We are free to work hard and invest in others along the way thanking our Father in Heaven whether he brings plenty or need. Either way our success is locked up and secure. It’s in Jesus.

The following scripture was referenced throughout this blog. Please check these wonderful truths out for yourself!

Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory

2 Corinthians 5:21 – Suffering for the sinless

Romans 3:26 – Justice and grace meet

1 John 2:2 – Jesus sacrifice for ALL