Success Versus Significance
John Schaefer serves at EV Free Church as the staff Chaplain and Shepherd of Staff Care. He has a long and storied career including both Chief of Police in Placentia and City Manager of San Marino.
A verse that John has taken to heart, Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God is quick (alive,) and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John started as a police offer at Cypress PD. When they were recruiting him on his first interview, his Police Chief asked him, “Where do you see yourself at the end of your career.” He said, “I want to be where you are, sitting in your chair as the Chief of Police.” John was clear about his career goals and enjoyed a long service career. After nearly 30 years in law enforcement he ended his law enforcement career as Police Chief at Placentia. After only two years, He was discharged from this position due to political infighting but God took care of him with a generous severance and retirement package.
John thought he would start over at the bottom and then rise through the ranks again up to another position as police chief in a different city. However, God had a different calling for life after law enforcement.
At church, John discovered that younger men need the experience of seasoned older men to disciple them. You never stop learning, nor does God stop calling you to be a disciple of Christ.
What’s the difference between being a laser and a shotgun?
A Jesuit prayer says, From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus… that others may be esteemed more than I…
That others may become holier that I may become as holy as I should.
For it is humility that changes men into angels of thy mercy…
In the New Testament is the story of a man who had a great following, yet he forsook his high position and in humility washed the feet of his twelve disciples.
A popular podcast “Java with Juli”, a contributor to Christianity Today says, in “#95 the Dating Manifesto” Women are taking over leadership roles in American society since they have become predominant as graduates of colleges and universities. She says, “men trend toward passivity as women assert their power.”
The passivity of men would not be a problem if men were to step up and assert the authority that God has given them as men of God.
In 1 Kings 2:2 Joshua says, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong and show yourself a man.” The question for our culture is, how do you show a young man how to become godly man?
1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be strong…. Act like men.” Action is Character… a characteristic of God’s call. God calls his men to be men of action. Action is the Character trait of God’s godly men. Godly manhood makes a family whole, a woman safe, a child confident, and a community strong. You know who a man is and what he believes by his actions.
In every game, half the teams will lose. Do we become so afraid of the fear of losing that we fail to compete? The story of Nehemiah is the story of adversity and those who stir up opposition to God’s call. Action requires that we faithfully strive to fulfill God’s call in the spiritual arena.
Loyalty is earned over time, not by what we say we will do, but by what we do… Loyalty is what you show me through your actions over a long period of time. Quit ye like men (behave like men), be strong in the lord and the power of his might. Manly men of God do manly things.
Whats’ the difference between success and significance? According to Acts 9:10 and following: 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth. 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.
The world defines success as moving up the ranks, getting accolades for performance and achieving positions of more responsibility, authority, and honor.
Annanias was called to do only one task…. To go minister to a man called Saul. It’s not the success in this act… rather it’s the significance. It is the investment in people that last… Jesus himself invested in twelve men. The question is who are your three and who are your twelve? Through the seeds Jesus planted in these individuals, God has changed the world.
It’s not about what the world considers success. Instead it’s the significance of your actions according to God’s calling. God calls us as men of action to have a significant impact on other men…. Men of God are called to act.. to never retire from discipleship… to pass it on, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified…. To the praise of the glory of God’s grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
