Failure: A Six-point Formula For Spiritual Failure

…so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

Philippians 1:10

Do you ever have that vague, inarticulate sense that even though you are a Christian, you have gotten yourself turned around and are living by the wrong set of motives, ambitions, and priorities?

Ed served as an elder in his church, tithed, and gave his whole life to the work of God. Yet, after twenty years of Christian life, he became embittered toward God and walked away. What should make each of us shudder is the frequency with which this scenario repeats itself. We all know people who have become embittered and walked away. Why does it happen? And what can we each do to inoculate ourselves from the disease of terminal spiritual bitterness?

Sometimes our lives can get so turned around that we think, I feel like chucking the whole thing. These are the moments of spiritual disillusionment. How do we become spiritually disillusioned? Let’s take a look at how to do things wrong.

Here is a six-step, fool-proof formula for spiritual failure. Look for yourself in these six steps and perform some self-diagnosis.

1. Go with the Natural Flow of Life. To be a successful failure requires that you not give much thought to knowing Jesus more intimately on a day-to-day basis. Think of Him more as a distant relative than a close friend. Let life’s natural currents take you where they may. Don’t look for a spiritual rhythm and tempo to daily life. Presume that spiritual growth will occur naturally. Don’t expend too much time in reflection, examining life’s larger purpose and meaning. It will give you a headache.
2. Immerse Yourself in Christian Work. One of the great secrets to finding spiritual disillusionment is to give yourself fully to the busyness of Christian life. Be there every time the church doors open. Cook the pancakes, balance the budget, call on all the first-time visitors. Spend your time doing the work of God, and don’t bog down in the Scriptures and intercession for the saints. It’s okay not to know your spiritual gifts because you can employ your natural abilities for service. Let your credo be, “To serve Him is to know Him.”
3. Do More for God Each Year. Measure your value to God by results. Keep records of your spiritual production. If you spent one hundred hours in Christian service last year, then make one hundred twenty hours your goal for this year. Make performance the acid test of your spirituality. Don’t listen to idle chatter that faithfulness is more important than production. Be American—let performance be your standard.
4. Look for Feedback from Friends. Measure your spiritual value by the feedback you get from other people. Depend on the appreciation and affirmation of the brothers and sisters. Savor the comments of your friends; turn them over and over in your mind. Believe what they say. Let their strokes provide energy, strength, and encouragement. Gain your identity in your accomplishments. Derive your self-worth from how others value your achievements, possibly in commerce, but especially in ministry.
5. Build a Reputation. Pick service to God that is high visibility. Build a spiritual ministry. Gain a reputation. Don’t be satisfied being a servant; become a star. If you can become somebody important, you can make a bigger contribution. Don’t think much about doing service for the glory of God. He can manage His own glory. Do your service in such a way that you are noticed. This is an excellent way to advance to bigger and better opportunities to serve God.
6. Concentrate on Work That Helps People. People really are very needy, you know, and if you position yourself correctly, you can become like a mini-Mother Teresa. Keep telling yourself that working for the betterment of mankind is worth it—it is a worthwhile goal in and of itself. Convince yourself that you will leave the world a better place. Believe that the issue on Christ’s mind is easing the pain of life alone, not seeking and saving lost sinners. Don’t focus on the distinction between showing human sympathy and confronting lost sinners with the loving claims of the gospel.

The other way—the way to spiritual success—is the opposite of what the world would prescribe.

With Christ, success is not performance; it’s surrender. To succeed is to surrender your motives, ambitions, and priorities to Christ. Seek to know Him more personally. Measure your worth and gain your identity by faithfulness to Christ, not by production. Let your service come from the overflow of a vital daily communion with the living Lord.

I SURRENDER

Lord, sometimes I do feel like chucking the whole thing. I am concerned that I’m on a collision course with spiritual disillusionment and bitterness. I often apply secular methods to meet spiritual needs. I see myself in some of these six areas. Where I am walking the path to disillusionment I pray You will redirect my steps. I confess I have been living by a confused set of motives, ambitions, and priorities. I surrender them to You. Amen.