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Success in our human lives means a lot to all of us, especially in a meritocratic society like Singapore. Be it academic, corporate or financial, we are all striving to achieve personal success one way or another. Most often, our worldly success is garnered through the attaining of credentials which showcase our competence e.g. Polytechnic Diploma, University Degrees, job titles, promotions or new appointments. These are taken to identify who we are in the world. With greater credentials, we are often given greater opportunity to do more and, say, get “higher up” in life, thereby attaining worldly success through what appears to be our own personal efforts.

What happens if you aren’t competent in the conventional sense? As we all know, not everybody is able to fulfil the worldly definition of success. The world, with its focus achievement, would be inclined to leave you aside, leaving only the smallest and most unimportant tasks for you to do.

God has a different definition of competence. Rather than focusing on our own efforts, the Bible states that “our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4). Being in God, we have been made “competent as ministers of a new covenant” (2 Corinthians 4:5) regardless of our worldly credentials, which only lead us to worldly success. God has given us the ability to perform the greatest task of all, the fulfilment of his Great Commission, to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 26:19-20). To accomplish this Great Commission He has given all of who believe His Holy Spirit power: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). This is true success!

After all, being children of the Kingdom of God, it is success for the Kingdom of God we are after, rather than success for ourselves. No letter of recommendation from our bosses or superiors can ever be stronger or more powerful than that from Almighty God has written on our hearts. Worldly success, through our own efforts, may not be meant for us, but Godly success, through God’s grant of competence, can and will be achieved through Him and Him alone. So what kind of success are you aiming for in your Christian life – your way, the world’s way or God’s way?