Let me introduce you to an equation: S = (T + O + A) ¸ M—the equation for calculating success. Success (S) is the degree to which we accomplished what we could have for the Lord, the extent to which we did God’s will, and the degree to which we became our best possible self. Many of us think Success equals Accomplishments, but that is far too simplistic. Some accomplishments are visible, some are not, and some are improperly motivated. God sees and weighs it all. Furthermore, there are other factors, handicaps, and advantages to be considered.

The Talents factor (T) includes abilities, consequent responsibilities, inabilities, handicaps, and consequent freedoms from some responsibilities. The talents factor has to do with what is in us—each with a different set of talents, which include unique combinations of physical, mental, and spiritual abilities, and giftings. The more talent a person has, the greater responsibility for accomplishments. From those with many talents, much is required; from those with few, not so much is required. God requires what we can do; not what we cannot do. God anticipates what we have to give in life; not what we cannot give. But the talents He has given us, He expects us to use.

The next factor is Opportunities (O). The opportunity factor includes opportunities available to us through contacts, resources, or circumstantial openings for usefulness, and consequent responsibilities, as well as any lack of opportunities and responsibility. We each also have different degrees and numbers of opportunities. Opportunities have to do with our context, our external situation.

Talents and opportunities are different factors because talents refer to internal abilities—what the person has the ability to do—while opportunities refer to external conditions—connections, tools, finances, access to schooling, social and political environment, and open doors, etc. In calculating the success of a person, we should take into consideration their circumstances as well as their native abilities. Some are born into families or nations where influential people are known or finances for educations are available. Others, with equal or superior talents, may be born in a family or nation in which there are severely limited finances, educational systems, or other things that would have allowed for the development and use of native talents. The success question is not so much what talents and opportunities we have or don’t have, but what use we make of the ones we do have. Considering these talent and opportunity variables helps us realize that we certainly are not in any position to conclusively measure our success or anyone else’s this side of heaven.

Accomplishments (A) include both visible accomplishments people can see and invisible accomplishments only God sees. We usually only consider another’s visible accomplishments, but this equation for evaluating our success also includes the accomplishments that God alone sees. Yet, for all of this, there is another important factor: only what we do for Him counts. This is factored into our equation by the M for selfish motive.

The selfish Motive (M) factor has the power to divide the combination of Talent, Opportunity, and Accomplishment. Only the part that is done for the Lord remains after M has divided it. An ulterior Motive cuts across it all. Jesus said that good deeds, prayer, and fasting done to receive the praise of people would not be rewarded again; they already received their reward. Some of our accomplishments, therefore, may be disqualified because we did them for selfish motives. Such wood, hay, and stubble will someday be burned up, leaving only what was done with correct motives—gold, silver, and precious stones—to be rewarded. Accomplishments done for the Lord will be laid out before Him and others on the day we are judged. God’s measure of our success is going to be considerably different from ours. Only God can be totally fair because He alone knows what the combination of Talent, Opportunity, and Accomplishment divided by Motive equals. He alone is able to calculate Success.

You may feel this equation is unnecessarily complex, but is it not possible that there are still other factors besides talent, opportunities, accomplishments and motives? As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s equations higher than ours. Nevertheless, our purpose in examining the success equation—S=(T+O+A)¸ M—is to provide a background for understanding how each of us can more completely fulfill our potential when we know who God created us to be.

When does God announce our Success? When does God let us know how well the real self measures up against the one we could have been? Christian believers will not be judged for their sin. That judgment was borne by Jesus on the Cross, and it is over. Christian believers will, however, be judged for their service and there will be some surprises in heaven. Though we ourselves don’t know perfectly how well we are doing, S=(T+O+A)¸ M gives us a hint and may reduce the prospect of surprise.

Mr. Hyde looked good in the eyes of men with his accomplishment level of 75, but with a talent level of 95, his 75 was only 78.9% of what he could have been. One-third of his motivation was for the praises of men which further reduced his reward score by one-third to only 52.6. His neighbor, Earnest, however, had an accomplishment level of only 60, but that was 86% of his talent level of 70. And, since his motives were pure, nothing was subtracted from his 86%. Which man did the best compared to what he could have done?

This perspective, though admittedly mechanical, may help us feel responsible to accomplish everything our talents and opportunities allow with the purest of motives. Instead of regretting not having opportunities or talents others have, we can learn to celebrate those we have and keep our hearts right. As we become more and more faithful in using what we have with a pure heart, we will find that we compare ourselves less, and our personal peace significantly increases. We are less inclined to be prideful from favorable comparisons and less likely to be intimidated by unfavorable comparisons. Too long the enemy has used unfavorable comparisons as a tool for discouragement, intimidation, and poor self-image, and too long he has used favorable comparisons to make us unduly proud.

Understanding the success equation relieves us from the personal disappointment we feel from those unfavorable comparisons. We simply do not know others’ Talent, Opportunity, and Motive, so there is no way we can know how successful they really are. Unnecessary self-condemnation and brow-beating is exposed by this equation. This perspective on success frees each of us to judge ourselves as best we can by the standards God will use on judgment day. We should judge ourselves so that we do our best, but not so harshly we are demoralized.

Success is the degree to which we have done the will of God. The degree to which we have not done it is the degree of our failure. From all of the above I draw several conclusions: 1) Only God knows how successful each of us is; 2) We ourselves do not know how successful we have been; 3) No one knows how successful another person has been; (4) Judgment of each other is foolish and useless; 5) Comparison of one’s accomplishments with another’s is also foolish and useless.

Feelings of pride and inferiority both come from our shallow comparisons of visible Accomplishments. Understanding the equation means we replace our pride or feelings of inferiority with a desire to encourage others. This understanding of success has the power to completely replace comparisons and competition with affirmation and cheering. We are happier and so are those around us. Those who run marathons know we all win, and we all celebrate each other’s wins.

Copyright Ron Meyers

Ron Meyers has served as the Professor of Missions and Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Missions programs in the School of Theology and Missions at Oral Roberts University.   He is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker who is available for book signings.  For more information visit www.christianhabits.com