My English class has been discussing the American Dream for a couple of weeks. Within this unit, I have heard several ideas about what my classmates see as being the American Dream.
"To be wealthy."
"It isn't real because not everyone has the same opportunities."
"To eliminate worry."
"To be happy."
"To rise above your current standing in society."
... and the most common, "To be successful."
I personally believe that "to be successful," is the American Dream. However, that is a broad statement. My definition of the American Dream depends on how I define "success."
Success is generally seen as accomplishment of wealth or fame. This is not how I see it.
I do not see gaining wealth or fame as "success" because those things are futile and will fail.
What doesn't fail is my faith and its resulting joy.
My definition of success is: being in a growing relationship with God, using the talents He has given me to the best of my ability, and being content with what I have.
A relationship with God fills my spirit with an incomprehensible joy. When I am with God, I WANT to things to the best of my ability. Why waste what God has given me by being lazy. I want to serve God by doing my very best in every situation. If doing my very best results in wealth or fame, then that's great. But, even if I do my very best and still end up in poverty and disease, then so be it. I will give God glory because His spirit is what blesses my life and what fills me up. If I am loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and use self-control. I am successful. If I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, strength, and love my neighbor as myself, I am successful.
Galatians 5:22-23Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Colossians 3:23(HCSB)
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Matthew 22:37-40 (HCSB)
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most importantcommand. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Even though I see these things as successful, success isn't my ultimate goal.
Jesus, the Son of God, left the comforts of heaven to come to this earth, live a perfect life, and then die a painful death so that I could be forgiven of my sins. This sin separates me from God and there is NOTHING that I can do on my own to get rid of it. But, because Jesus died to forgive me, if I repent, my sin is forgiven and forgotten. But that's not the end of the story. Jesus LIVES! He rose on the third day and defeated death. My Jesus is powerful and I live to serve Him, follow Him and honor Him.
I do have goals and dreams for this life, but the things of this live are not guaranteed to me. If I never gain worldly success, I am not a failure. God has rescued me from the achievable standard the world places on me. He can rescue you too. He loves you. He died to save you. Accept Him. Follow Him. Then, you will have success.
Philippians 2 (HCSB)
Christian Humility
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
More on the American Dream
Blessings :)
My Darling Lilly, in my flesh I want to swell with pride in all that you have learned; and in a small part, take credit for the lady that you have become. But after reading this post, it is clear that you are a much more than a fine lady; but rather, a strong, unashamed, Christian lady. And with that being said, all credit goes to God for opening your mind to the mysteries of His great love (Eph 6:19) I'm proud of you!
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