How we measure "success" reveals what we are living for.

Success Level 1: Material Perspective

The successful life is measured by the accumulation of possessions and material wealth. Indulging in creature comforts, food, wine, shopping, and the other Epicurean delights constitute a life well lived. "The person with the most toys wins" is a fitting motto.


Success Level 2: Ego Perspective

The successful life is measured by power, popularity, control, achievement, and winning. Having more and being more is success. We can get caught up in a comparison game of having more and being more than other people.


Success Level 3: Contributive Perspective

The successful life is optimizing the difference we can make in the world. For example, with our family, friends, community, work, or church. The quality of relationships, the depth of character, and the sincerity of our commitments measure success.

No matter how attractive this view of success is, it has an Achilles’ heel. It makes us yearn for an ideal of Love, Truth, Goodness, and Beauty that we cannot produce, and that others cannot produce for us. It leaves us open to disappointment, frustration, dashed romanticism, and dashed idealism. It tempts us to think we can do it all ourselves.


Success Level 4: Universal Perspective

The fourth level of success counteracts these problems because it brings a universal perspective to the foreground. If you have faith, you might call it God’s perspective.

Our contribution in making a difference stems from a commitment to grow in faith. Our concern is with what has ultimate, unconditional, and eternal significance—God and His will. This is only possible with God’s grace to lead us to where we cannot go ourselves.