A newspaper reporter was interviewing an old farmer. His question was, “To what do you attribute your great success in farming?”
“Well,” drawled the farmer, with a twinkle in his eye, “It’s 50% weather, 50% good luck, and the rest is brains.”
Another definition of a successful life goes something like this: “The one who dies with the most toys wins.”
Woody Allen said, “80% of success is showing up.”
Benjamin Disraeli’s definition: “The secret to success is constancy of purpose.”
At the age of 90, Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The secret of my success is that at an early age I discovered I was not God.”
What makes for a successful life? David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons have collaborated on a new book, GOOD FAITH: BEING A CHRISTIAN WHEN SOCIETY THINKS YOU’RE IRRELEVANT AND EXTREME. They state that new research highlights the extent to which Americans pledge allegiance to a new moral code, the morality of self-fulfillment, summed up in six guiding principles. For my purposes today, I’ll mention three of them:
- To find yourself, look within yourself.
- To be fulfilled in life, pursue the things you desire most.
- Enjoying yourself is the highest goal of life.
The implication is that if you want to be a success, follow those principles.
Of what does a successful life consist? Our Lord answered the question in many ways. The Beatitudes— blessed are the poor in spirit, the merciful, those who mourn, and so on. His Summary of the Law: the love of God with all of one’s heart, soul, and mind, and the love of one’s neighbor as oneself. If you live according to these principles, you’ll be living a successful life.
Today’s Gospel gives another. Success for Jesus was fulfilling the Father’s will in going to the cross. How does that fit with the goal of enjoying oneself as the highest goal in life?
I’m going to give you another definition of success. The key to successful living is Jesus, Jesus who saves us from our sins and Jesus our example. The first part of the formula for success is simply acceptance of Jesus as Savior. That’s what we did, or was done in our name, at our baptism. Every time we approach the altar to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we’re reaffirming that covenant made at our baptism that Jesus is our Savior.
The second part of the formula for success consists in following Jesus to the cross, living our lives in sacrificial love in whatever circumstances we find yourselves. How can I be successful with my family, my job, my church, my relationships with my friends? By putting myself out of the center and allowing God to be at the center, and by loving others with the same selfless love with which Jesus loves us. Such a goal takes a lifetime and more to accomplish.
Would you consider Jesus a successful person? In the eyes of the world he wasn’t. While he had a large following at times, he ended up dying the death of a criminal. Furthermore, it was to that death that he said his whole life was pointed. When the Pharisees came to him and warned him that Herod wanted to kill him, he said he had cast out demons and cured people of their diseases, but then he focused on his death and resurrection, “for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.”
Last week I had the opportunity to see two powerful results of people in our parish and community who are putting God in the center of their lives. The first was a reception to thank those who support the Florida Center for Early Childhood. Our parish supports that organization. There were 35 people present, and seven of those were members of Redeemer. Two of the seven are members of the board. The Florida Center for Early Childhood helps children who are at risk for academic, social, and economic failure. They often come from homes where there’s been physical abuse and neglect. Some of these children were born to mothers who were addicted to drugs, and therefore they were born addicted themselves. This organization is devoted to helping these children and their families and there are many success stories. The work they’re doing couldn’t be done without the sacrificial love of many devoted to this mission.
The second powerful result of people putting God in the center was seen last week at the annual banquet for the Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center. I estimate there were probably at least 800 people present, and there were many members of our parish there as well. I was invited because we have supported this organization from its beginning in 2002. The Center provides free, confidential services to women and families in Sarasota County. It provides a safe place for pregnant women to explore all their options regarding their pregnancy. Again, there are many success stories of women who chose to have their babies even though their circumstances weren’t ideal. The work this organization is doing wouldn’t be possible without the sacrificial love of many who are devoted to this mission.
The best example, however, is the people right here in this church worshiping God through our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s where it starts.
Kinnaman and Lyons give an alternative to the six guiding principles of American society:
- To find yourself, discover the truth outside yourself, in Jesus.
- Joy is found not in pursuing our own desires but in giving of ourselves to bless others.
- The highest goal of life is giving glory to God.
God wants us to be successful, but true success is found only in him.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Fredrick A, Robinson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
2nd Sunday of Lent
17 March 2019