Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere. — 1 Thessalonians 1:8
The church in Thessalonica was a bridgehead for the gospel. It was the most exciting church in the New Testament, and yet some of the believers there didn’t know it. Some thought Paul’s ministry was a failure. That’s clear from how Paul answers them:
• Our coming to you was not in vain. (2:1)
Obviously, some people were suggesting that it was.
• Our appeal does not spring from error. (2:3)
Some thought that it did.
• Our appeal does not spring from… impurity or any attempt to deceive. (2:3)
Some felt that Paul was trying to manipulate them.
Sadly, some in the church, who were surrounded by a great work of God, did not have the eyes to see it. All they could see were problems. We know that Paul’s accusers were Christians, because he calls them “brothers.” How could they have thought that Paul’s ministry was a failure?
Because they had a false definition of success. They defined success as “everything being comfortable and everyone being happy.” If that is your standard, you too will likely feel that your life, your family, and your church are a failure.
A successful ministry does not mean a comfortable ministry. And a successful life, in God’s sight, is not the same as a carefree life. Plenty of God’s servants in the Bible were seen by the world as failures. But God’s view of success is different than the world’s.
What is your definition of success? How do you know if your life is a success?
