What is the secret to personal success?

   Books have been written that purport to reveal the secret to success in nearly every walk of life. Many are so taken with the drive for success that they are willing to do just about anything to achieve it. A recent television series looked at the mothers of little children who rob their children of their childhoods as they prep them to win beauty pageants. Fathers who want their sons to be professional athletes begin them on a ritual in that direction before they can begin to walk. It seems everyone is looking for the secret to success.

   There are thousands of books that tell us how to succeed. Donna Brooks' Seven secrets of successful women is a bestseller. Erin Conroy has a book called 20 secrets to success with your child. Og Mandino has one called Secrets of Success and Marriage. The list of success driven books, videos and audio tapes is unending. It seems everyone wants to write a book about how to succeed in something. The reason they are so popular is because it seems, everyone wants to know.

   Whether we are successful in life depends heavily upon how we define success. If we define success in terms of material things, then we spend our lives trying to accumulate as many material things as possible. We count ourselves a success if we have them and can keep them and we say we have failed if we cannot get them or lose them. If we define success in terms of quality of life concerns such as peace, happiness, and inner joy, then we may find success with or without material things.

   If we are looking for a secret to success the bible gives us a very unusual way to succeed that is totally different from what the world teaches. In fact, it is so unusual that many reject what it teaches because it does not appear logical in light of today's times. The bible says to be exalted or lifted up that means to succeed, we must humble ourselves before God and God will do the rest. That means we should do the will of God without seeking success itself and God will take care of the rest.

   As Christians, we have learned that doing God's will has its rewards. Sometimes we receive them in material things, everything we receive them in heaven. We are successful if we surrender ourselves to his will and allow him to take control of our lives.

   Today, the good you do will be rewarded. God will see your deed and reward you. Do it!