How Do You Define Success?

How would you define “Success”?

The Oxford Dictionary says:

Success /səkˈsɛs/
the accomplishment of an aim or purpose -
the attainment of fame, wealth, or social status.

But is this really the true meaning of success?

If that’s the case, what could you say about these “successful” people?

Fame

•Marilyn Monroe committed suicide at the height of her career.
•Ludwig Boltzmann (1906), Austrian physicist famous for thermodynamics and the atomic theory, hanging
•Johnny Ace (1954), American singer, self-inflicted gunshot
•Lembit Oll (1999), Estonian chess Grandmaster, jumped out of window
•Edwin Valero (2010), Venezuelan boxer, hanging, after arrest on suspicion of murdering his wife
-Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Wealth

In 1923, a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. These tycoons were extremely rich & altogether they controlled more wealth than there was in the US Treasury. Their success stories were published everywhere inspiring many to follow their fine examples. Just look at who they were:

1. Arthur Cutten – The greatest wheat speculator.
2. Albert Fall – The Secretary of Interior in President Harding’s cabinet.
3. Leon Fraser – The president of the Bank of International Settlements.
4. Howard Hopson – The president of the largest gas company.
5. Ivar Kreuger – Head of the world’s greatest monopoly.
6. Jesse Livermore – The greatest bear in Wall Street.
7. Charles Schwan – The president of the largest independent steel company.
8. Richard Whitney – The president of the New York Stock Exchange.

But 27 years later in 1948, this was what happened to them:
1. Arthur Cutten died abroad insolvent.
2. The penniless Albert Fall was pardoned from prison so that he could die at home.
3. Leon Fraser commited suicide.
4. Howard Hopson was insane.
5. Ivar Kreuger commited suicide.
6. Jesse Livermore commited suicide.
7. Charles Schwan was bankrupt & had to live on borrowed money the last 5 years of his life before his death.
8. Richard Whitney was recently released from Sing Sing Prison.
-Source: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/fortune.asp

Social Status

•Forrest Howard Anderson (1989), Governor of Montana, self-inflicted gunshot
•José Manuel Balmaceda (1891), President of Chile, self-inflicted gunshot
•Robert M. McLane (1904), American mayor of Baltimore, self-inflicted gunshot
-Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Even the great Philosopher, Solomon, said:

I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;the more knowledge, the more grief. ~Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun. ~Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?
The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep. ~Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

If either of fame, wealth, or social status is not the true meaning of success…
Then what could that be?

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says:

“This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.”

Here is one interesting fact about the book of Ecclesiastes.
Notice the Great Philosopher’s conclusion:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. ~Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

And Matthew 16:26 says:

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Would you like to be successful?

Then,

“In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” ~Proverbs 3:6

© 2011 Erickson Ibana