Henry Drummond once wrote, “To become like Christ is the only thing in the world worth caring for…before which every ambition of man is folly and all lower achievement vain.” Those words cut straight to the heart of how Scripture defines success.
In a culture that measures achievement by accumulation and applause, Jesus offers a very different scoreboard—one centered not on what we gain, but on who we become.
Henry Drummond once wrote, “To become like Christ is the only thing in the world worth caring for…before which every ambition of man is folly and all lower achievement vain.” Those words cut straight to the heart of how Scripture defines success.
In a culture that measures achievement by accumulation and applause, Jesus offers a very different scoreboard—one centered not on what we gain, but on who we become.
The Success Story We’ve Been Taught
It’s easy to believe that if we could just reach a little higher, earn a little more, or move a little faster, we’d finally arrive.
We see this impulse at the very beginning of Scripture. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve weren’t lacking anything, yet they believed something better was being held back (Genesis 3). At the Tower of Babel, humanity declared, “Let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).
Success, in their minds, meant defining greatness on their own terms.
That same instinct shapes us today. We measure success by paychecks and promotions, by titles, trophies, and the size of our homes or portfolios. And in a world that equates success with accumulation, it’s hard not to wonder: Am I successful yet? Will more finally be enough?
Jesus’ Warning About the Illusion of More
Jesus speaks directly into that tension in Luke 12:15: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”He then tells the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16–21). A man experiences an abundant harvest and decides to tear down his barns to build bigger ones. He reassures himself: “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”
On the surface, it sounds like success. He planned ahead. He saved. He prepared. But Jesus calls him a fool.
Listen to the language: my barns, my grain, my goods, my soul. There’s no gratitude, no dependence on God, no concern for others. His definition of success was accumulation, and his confidence rested entirely in what he had stored up.
God’s response is sobering: “This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20)
Jesus concludes, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
The story is meant to shake us awake. It exposes how easily we confuse preparation with control and wisdom with self-reliance. God isn’t measuring success by what we store—He’s measuring it by what we surrender.
A New Definition of Success
The apostle Paul understood this well. By every cultural standard of his day, Paul had succeeded. Yet he wrote: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).
Paul didn’t lower the bar for success—he replaced it. Scripture tells us God’s goal for our lives plainly: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
That’s the metric. Not income. Not influence. Not recognition. Christlikeness.
So it’s worth asking: What scoreboard are you watching right now? Whose applause are you chasing?
If your goals are rooted in impressing others or securing more for yourself, satisfaction will always feel just out of reach. But if your goals are rooted in becoming more like Christ, you’ll discover a kind of success that cannot be taken away.
Jesus invites us to measure progress differently. Instead of asking, “Did I win today?” we can ask, “Did I look a little more like Jesus today?”
In God’s economy:
Success is measured by obedience, not accumulation.
By faithfulness, not fame.
By surrender, not status.
And God delights in what is done faithfully—even when no one else sees.
Jesus puts it plainly: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Real success isn’t what you gain. It’s who you become in Christ.
Aligning Our Hearts With What Lasts
This is one of the reasons I wrote Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Devotional to Faithful Stewardship. Each day is designed to help realign your heart—and your financial decisions—with God’s purposes, so that success is defined not by accumulation, but by transformation.
You can order a copy or place a bulk order for your church or small group at FaithFi.com/Shop.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
Should we tithe on our business’s gross revenue, or just on the salary we actually pay ourselves?
I have a 19-year-old niece and would like to contribute the first $1,000 to an IRA to help her start learning about budgeting and financial responsibility. Should I connect with a Certified Kingdom Advisor, or simply open an account through a company like Fidelity or Nationwide?
My husband had a TIAA account from his time as an adjunct professor. Since I’m 76, I’m required to take distributions each year. I’d prefer to give that money to my son so it can remain invested and continue growing. Is that possible?
My wife and I are both in our 70s and trying to determine how to divide our estate among our three children, our new church, and a few ministries we support. I know every situation is unique, but are there guidelines or resources to help us think through percentage allocations wisely?
I’d like to lower my mortgage payment. I owe $89,000 at 3.5%, and my monthly payment is $1,254. I have cash available to apply toward the principal. If I make a lump-sum principal payment, will that reduce my monthly payment?
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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