Father's Day is here!

Here we are the middle of June, summer I looked around as I was walking the dog and thought about the plans I had made for this “summer.” One or two started but none finished and here we are at Father’s day. Mid-June and I’ve had no completion of my plans. No finished project I can point to and feel proud about the accomplishment, no success to measure my worth.

Success is a word thrown around in our culture. The problem is the definition keeps on moving, changing and morphing as well. In a conversation recently I asked a man/father/ husband what a successful day was. “How did he define a successful day?” He replied very candidly, “A successful day is not yelling at my child.” He then went on to tell of the trying morning the two of them had attempting to get out of the door. Many of us can relate to that definition. The problem is most days we are not successful even by that definition much less the others measures of manhood, wealth, fame, power, prestige.

A definition is thought. Thought about what a word of action means not just in the short term but also in the long term. Whose thought do you embrace? That will define success. Some my say they were successful by just making it to the end of the day. I say that is survival not success. Jesus illustrated this in a parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-28). A talent here is not an ability but rather assets of large value, a large sum of money. To one the Master in the story gave 5, another 2 and finally 1 to the third to manage for him while he was away. When the master returned the first brought 10 talents. He had doubled the talents and was praised “well done good and faithful.” Likewise the second brought 4 talents. He also had doubled the talents and in the same manner was praised, “Well done good and faithful.” Both were entrusted with more responsibilities for the future. The third returned with the 1 talent he had been given. He survived the task. At least he didn’t lose it he still had the 1 talent.  We might measure that a success but it was not. The key to his failure is in his words,

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ Matthew 25:24-25 HCSB.                 

Did you see it? “I was afraid.” Men, most days we fail to succeed because we are afraid. Afraid we don’t have what it takes or afraid of what others will say or do, afraid of what might happen to our family, afraid of how much energy it will take. Let’s face it we look tough and strong on the outside but we are soft and weak on the inside. We are afraid we won’t succeed.

This story teaches us the definition of success written by God. It’s called faithfulness. Success in God’s eyes is measured in faithfulness to Him, faithfulness to our wives, faithfulness to our children, and faithfulness to ourselves. Faithfulness is doing the best you can with what you have. Two talents do your best, five talents do your best, one talent do your best, sweeping the floor do your best, washing the car do your best. You can only do your best when you are present.

Success in God’s eyes is not measured in outcome but in faithfulness to the task. When on the job be there, when home relaxing with the family be there, when worshipping be there Your Heavenly Father is and he wants you to join him. Faithfulness is to live in the moment given you to take advantage of the opportunity God gives to speak, serve or be for Him. Not the past or the future but right then and there taking in all that God has put before you. Men, when we live like that each day is successful. We have been a success in God’s eyes and when we trust him more in our own.

Have a GREAT Father’s Day!     

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG