Two Signs of Success

8-17-2009

As I’ve studied successful people two things became rather clear: they will be persecuted or criticized and they will be different. Jesus Christ is the most successful person to ever walk the earth and he was absolutely persecuted for his actions, and he 100% went against the grain.

Why persecution? Why do people criticize the successful? People do not want to see you succeed without them, and they are going to look for any and every reason to pull you down. Josh Hamilton plays baseball for the Texas Rangers. Josh is a devout Christian, and he tours around the country in the offseason doing speaking engagements and spreading the message of Christ. In 1999 he was the 1st pick overall in the Major League Baseball Draft, but soon after he was out of baseball due to a drug and alcohol addiction. Once he came to know Christ, his life got back on track, he returned to baseball, and was an All Star for the Rangers in the 2008 season. In 2009 he began to struggle with his alcohol addiction again, and his performance on the field went downhill fast as well. Being the man of integrity that he is, he openly admitted his struggle to the world. Here’s the interesting part. The media rarely mentioned the FACT that Josh toured the world confessing his sins to thousands of people about drug and alcohol addiction, and how Christ saved his soul from his addictions, but they had no problem blasting him on the news about his struggle to stay clean. Notice, the media celebrates the downfall of Josh, but rarely mentions the amazing message of salvation that took place in his life! His success story far outweighs his struggles, but the first key to being successful holds true: you will be persecuted and criticized.

Because you are different, you will have what others don’t have. It’s easy to fall into the traps of the world. It’s very difficult to stand up for what’s right! Therefore, in order to have what others don’t, you must be willing to be what others aren’t and do what others aren’t willing to do. Think about it…if over 90% of the people in the world are in debt, doesn’t it make sense to want to be a part of the less than 10% that’s not? If the majority of the people in our country are overweight, doesn’t it make sense to be a part of the few percent that are in shape? Again, you are going to be different if you want to be successful, and remember you will be criticized for doing so!

Application:
1. What keeps you from being different? There’s a reason people read about pioneers…no one reads about a settler!
2. Are you a pioneer or a settler?