Helping Others Succeed

We all have a desire to be successful in life. We listen to successful people and seek to pattern our lives after them. We watch their videos and follow their example. Why? We desire success. But in truth and in fact, success is relative. When a baby is crawling, success in mobility requires that child learn to walk. When you are unemployed, success is a job. As you continue, success changes as you move upward. What does success look like in your eyes?

I was curious so I checked,  “What does the world teach us about success”? I surveyed several articles, six to be exact, to identify the activities of successful individuals. I was looking for one quality in particular and was surprised to see it listed in only one. One article identified the practice of helping others to gain success as a habit or practice of successful individuals. As people of faith, do we employ those same standards for success? Sometimes, it appears that we do. We are afraid to help or support someone because they might become more successful than we are. But, when the Apostle Paul met individuals on his journeys and he saw potential in those individuals, he nurtured that potential so that they could serve at their best for the kingdom of God.  

When Paul met Timothy, Timothy was a young convert and a young man. Paul took the time to mentor him so that he could develop into what God called him to be. So, in Acts 16,  Paul takes young Timothy on a missionary trip. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul addressed Timothy as his son in the faith. There came a time when Timothy was able to represent Paul when he was unable to travel. “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ [my conduct and my precepts for godly living], just as I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:17 AMP.  Paul took the time to teach Timothy and when he passed on, Timothy continued his mission because Paul took the time to make Timothy successful in ministry. 

Thought for Today: Friend, take the time to help someone achieve their full potential.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.