How Does God Measure Success?

In the 11th chapter of Hebrews we find the Old Testament “hall of fame” for men and women of great faith, from Abel to Abraham, from David to all the prophets. This inventory of great ones includes a group of unnamed who were tortured, persecuted, beaten, thrown into prison, destitute, wandering in deserts, living in caves and holes in the ground, having died without receiving the promise (11:36-39). These unnamed heroes of faith reveal how God measures success.

They gained approval through their faith, without which they could not have pleased God. (11: 6,39)

God is honored when His children want nothing but to please Him, when they are satisfied with Him alone. in John Piper’s words, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

God is pleased when you are content with what you have, sometimes testing your contentment by withholding “things.” He is pleased when he sees you doing your work as unto Him, whether or not you receive that promotion or salary increase. God is pleased when you have peace about your finances, in spite of losses in your portfolio.

The heroes of faith of the Old Testament believed that God is [enough] and knowing Him and pleasing Him was the only reward they sought. (11:6)

Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him boast about this: that he understands and knows Me. (Jeremiah 9:23–24)