Failure and Success: The Carnal Desire to Make Good

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.—2 Corinthians 4:5

Our Lord died an apparent failure, discredited by the leaders of established religion, rejected by society and forsaken by His friends. The man who ordered Him to the cross was the successful statesman whose hand the ambitious hack politician kissed. It took the resurrection to demonstrate how gloriously Christ had triumphed and how tragically the governor had failed.

Yet today the professed church seems to have learned nothing. We are still seeing as men see and judging after the manner of man's judgment. How much eager-beaver religious work is done out of a carnal desire to make good. How many hours of prayer are wasted beseeching God to bless projects that are geared to the glorification of little men. How much sacred money is poured out upon men who, in spite of their tear-in-the-voice appeals, nevertheless seek only to make a fair show in the flesh.

The true Christian should turn away from all this. Especially should ministers of the gospel search their own hearts and look deep into their inner motives. No man is worthy to succeed until he is willing to fail. No man is morally worthy of success in religious activities until he is willing that the honor of succeeding should go to another if God so wills. Born After Midnight, 58.

"As one called to lead people to honor and worship the Almighty God, I recognize that personal pride and self-glorification are so despicable. Yet if I were honest, I would probably have to admit that I struggle with pride more than any other sin. Deliver me, Lord, I pray. For Jesus' sake, Amen."