By Rev. Wendell Lamb, Guest Correspondent
Published: May 8, 2008

Certain success can be the very means to failure. One may climb the ladder of success by using people; and when that one arrives at the top, he may find himself all alone. One may spend all his energy and time making money and become very wealthy and discover that all he has earned will not buy happiness. One may become a powerful person and be able to have control over others and yet not be able to govern his own spirit and die an immoral person.
Success can be measured by positions held, money earned, or the power exerted. Jesus asked, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. A truly successful person must first see the value in his own soul. Biblical success is not defined or measured in terms of hierarchical prestige, economical status, or attained authority. All of these earthly things have temporary value; but to lose one’s soul is of eternal consequence.
In the Gospel of Luke there is record of a contrast between two men: a rich man, who by the world’s standard would be considered highly successful, and a beggar, who by the same standard would be considered a failure. Read Luke 16:19-31 to know-as Paul Harvey would say-"The rest of the story.”