Success in God’s Eyes

A reflection on being faithful, fruitful, and fulfilled.

By Don Cousins and Bruce Bugbee

God does not define success the same way we do. We might feel like we’ve made it if we have a certain number of digits on our paycheck or a certain number of retweets on Twitter. But that’s not how God sees success. And for us to expand the kingdom as God has called us to do, we need a proper and biblical understanding of success.

How you understand success—in your church, your home, your workplace, or your neighborhood—will influence the way you serve and lead. So it matters that we try to see success as God does.

A biblical definition of success has four key characteristics, and someone who is successful will manifest all of them.

A successful person is faithful. This means doing what God has called you to do and using everything that he has given you to do it. God wants to say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” as the master says in Matthew 25:21 (NIV). In the parable, the “faithful” servants returned with more than what had been entrusted to them. God expects an increase.

Ask yourself, What’s my calling? Am I faithfully pursuing it? What has God entrusted to me? Am I increasing what I have been given?

A successful person is fruitful. Jesus tells his disciples that God is glorified when we “bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8, NIV).

What kind of fruit should we look for? There are two evidences of fruit.

One is Christlike character, or “the fruit of the Spirit.” Our character is like Christ when we exhibit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).


The other is Christlike influence, as exemplified by Jesus, who made an impact in the people around him and was recognized by others. Even early in his life, we hear that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). And in Acts, Peter describes the influence of Jesus: “You know what has happened … how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:37-38, NIV).

How are you showing Christlike character and influence?

A successful person is fulfilled. God desires to fill us with a sense of esteem, value, and significance. He wants us to experience joy. Jesus tells his disciples, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). The joy of fulfillment flows from faithful and fruitful ministry—like the 70 people whom Jesus sent out into ministry and who then “returned with joy” (Luke 10:17). Are you fulfilled by your work for God?

A successful person makes God famous. True success brings God glory. When people see our good deeds, they will glorify God (Matthew 5:16). That’s why we should fully exercise our spiritual gifts: “so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Is your life bringing God glory?

Take this week to reflect on just how you are being faithful, fruitful, and fulfilled and making God famous.

Adapted from Experiencing LeaderShift by Don Cousins, lead pastor of Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida. Bruce Bugbee is regional executive of the Far West Region.