This week, WordPress notified me of two particular milestones my site has reached. It does not matter exactly what they are, and you will understand later why I choose not to share the specifics. In addition to that, my site also managed to exceed total views for 2020, also something of an achievement.
Are these successes though?
In some ways, of course they are. It is encouraging to me as a writer to know that my posts are being read. That’s sort of the point, right? But take my blog and sit it next to a social media giant or retail conglomerate and suddenly my handful of views does not look quite so successful.
Page views, likes and shares are just one small way to measure success. For the Christian writer, blogger or author aiming to share the Gospel, they are not the best measure.
So what is success in God’s eyes? As ever, Paul has wisdom to share.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
In particular, my attention is drawn to verse seven above. Paul, as he approached the end of his life, was able to say that he fought the good fight, finished his race, and kept the faith. While i am sure he had regrets, he was able to say that he did what God had called him to. Surely that is the greatest success a person can achieve.
Whether you are a writer, pastor or anything else. Are you able to say that you are doing what God has called you to? If so, then you are a success. It does not matter what awards you do or do not win in this life, for you will be rewarded with the crown of righteousness by the Righteous Judge.
When I stand before God at the end of all things, He will not ask me how many views my site got. He will ask what I did with Jesus, and then He will examine my works to see if they stand the test. Salvation is unquestioningly found in Jesus alone, but our good works in His Name will also be recognised.
A blog with a thousand followers is not more successful than one with a hundred, if both are seeking the glory of the Lord. The same is true for churches. Worldly success is fleeting so strive for God’s success which is eternal.
What race are you running? Let it be the one that leads to Christ. Once you have made sure that it is, run it with all you can. If you can say, at the end of your life, that you followed the Lord and kept the faith, you will be a true success. Don’t chase after follows or promote yourself, do it all for Jesus. He is the only One that matters.
Andy Brown 
Sound advice Andy, in the big scheme of things, a blog is just one factor among many. Yet it can and is often used, both by ourselves and God, to accomplish multiple goals, so I do find it a worthy tool, both for myself and others. Congrats on your accomplishments, it takes dedication and your dedication is to be commended. I also appreciate and learn from the balance and common touch you maintain, which actually says a lot. We all learn from one another and I am grateful that our paths have crossed. May God’s grace, peace and blessings be poured upon you and yours, to God’s glory.
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Thank you very much. Every blessing on you and yours as well. I too am grateful for your writing and what I have learned from it.
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Oh my brother. SO much wisdom and depth in this post.
And SO incredibly well timed for me, in particular.
I’ve wrestled with what an earth we’re thinking and doing with Berrybunch.family, and whether there really is any point to it.
But E.V.E.R.Y. time I ponder the point of it, one of us gets an inspiration to push on forwards, or we get a message from someone telling us to not give up; to keep going, or input on how we can make something better, or I find a post like yours that shoots like an arrow straight to my heart!
It’s taken us a year of effort to get to where we are now; 12 months of procrastinating before that; 4 years of ridiculously tough, full-time, ministry (which we had to walk away from last summer – long story for another day).
With a marriage [video/audio] podcast scheduled to start to celebrate our 25th anniversary this November, I was wondering, again, what we’re doing it all for and whether agod really wants us to do it at all.
But, for us, if it easy – and we’re easily inspired – we take that as the peace we need to keep going.
Why am I writing such a long reply?!?
To encourage you, my brother!!
This post is God’s much needed, perfectly timed, exclamation mark on the end of a point He has been getting me to slowly comprehend.
After praying, finding peace, and buying two better quality mics last week, I was starting to slip on my acceptance that this is what God wants me to do with my time…then your post popped up on my phone.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!
Onwards!!!
Andy B
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Thank you very much for your wonderful comment! It is worth more to me than 1000 followers! Don’t give up, keep following the Lord and you will indeed be a success. I will certainly be praying for you all and for your ministry which I hope touches many for Christ. God bless you today
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Thanks Andy
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What an amazingly profound post! I feel like a late comer to the party in only reading this on Saturday night. I love how you persist in highlighting the Gold standard of success, which is God’s standard. It is the only standard tat truly matters in Eternal matters. Well done brother!
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Thank you
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A biblical view of success; the metrics is glorying God!
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Absolutely! And I’m not sure gods glory can be measured!
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True
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