Memorable Quotes #1

I keep a document on my phone that is ever expanding. This note document is a collection of quotes and sayings that I read, hear or observe that I find really helpful. They are good enough that I do not want to forget them so I write them down. I figured that for the next couple of months, I would simply share some of those with you in the hopes that you may be inspired or challenged by one or more of them in the same way I was. So let me begin with a quote that I had read a few years ago but popped up again in something I was reading recently.

“God will not trust you with more success than your character can bear.” (Henry Blackaby)

My first reaction was that this is not true. I can think of people who have lots of success who are thoroughly bad people. I see it in the news, in sports and entertainment. But I believe the essence of this quote applies to those who are followers of Jesus. As I follow Jesus, he is far more interested in the development of my life, my character and my relationship with him than he is in the end result of the things that I do for him.

When I think back on my life, I am actually thankful that God did not give me the successes I craved at different times because, if I am honest, it would have been a recipe for disaster. I simply would not have handled it well. It’s not that Jesus didn’t want me to succeed, but he never wanted my success to distract or derail my life from what is truly important.

What might this look like?

• Perhaps he doesn’t give financial success like we wish because he knows we have not resolved the issues of generosity and stewardship with what we have now.
• Perhaps a pastor or leader does not see things grow like they want because God knows they will take the credit for it and it would be based on destructive family habits.
• Maybe we don’t achieve a position in work or church or life because he knows our character would collapse under the weight of the expectations of others.

In the end I wonder if it is simply changing our internal narrative. If we focused on growing in our character, on living in obedience and making good and wise choices, I wonder if success would naturally follow. And I wonder because of our growth in character if we would care as much about success as we originally did?
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My prayer for you and me: May our character grow so that it can bear the weight of what God desires to trust us with!