Redefining Success

I think it is a mistake to equate success with numbers only. Don’t get me wrong, more people, money, property, buildings are good, but do they insure health and productivity? Jesus spoke a lot about productivity. In John 15 He said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful ... Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” I have found that there are three principles of productivity. The Lord, I trust, showed me this as I was preparing Connecting Points for my church. These three principles are embraced in and enhanced by Connecting Points. They are the principles of health, intentionality, and alignment. Here is what I felt as though the Lord showed me. If we hope for productivity we must be healthy, intentional, and in alignment. The principle of health says very simply: “things that are healthy produce and grow”. The principle of intentionality points out that unless we know where we are going it is unlikely that we will get there. The principle of alignment reveals the power in the unified thrust of everyone moving in the same direction at the same time. If this is true, we can more accurately define success in terms of growth, productivity, and health. Do you agree?