January 9, 2006 - Goldilocks and the Lord Have A Little Talk

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Goldilocks and the Lord Have A Little Talk
By Liz Fierge
January 9, 2006

I realized after my birthday last year that in the sense of the world, I was “mediocre.” Not a success, not a failure, just “mediocre.” My job was going nowhere fast and my husband’s job was not promoting him. Right at that time, when this started to ferment in my mind, a good friend who is a manager at her job, and whose husband was being promoted at lightning speed and being educated for free from his job, innocently said to me, "So, when is your husband going to be the boss at his job?" I was crushed. My mind was spinning all of this around, and I began to get discontented.

Then, a few months later, in my desperation to not be "mediocre," I started planning to go back to school for a music degree. Lo and behold, all my planning came to naught, and it was apparent that was just not God's plan for my life at this time.

I really struggled with this! How can God not want me to be better at the talents He gave me? How can He not want me to be the boss at my job? Why can't I be successful, too?

I began to understand that the world's view of success—job promotions, degrees, fame, and acclaim—is not God's view. In the Kingdom, success is not measured by your position, title, or income. It is measured by your position to God. He must increase, I must decrease.

This is so backwards to our current society that we have to live in now, but vital to eternity’s reward. Take, for instance, the "successful" believers in Matthew 7:21-23. I believe that these people took success in the world and applied it to the Lord's work. They were productive. They were PR pros. They eliminated the competition. Yet they did not do the will of the Father, and, in that ultimate failure, lost out with God.

The Apostle Paul says this about promotion:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory…Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:1-4, 25).

That is where my success lies. My life is to be hid in Christ. Every action, every promotion, every seemingly meaningless task for my employer is to point to Christ. Promotion will come from Him.

There is a famous story about another “mediocre” situation—“Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” She tried everything until she found what was just right. Maybe that’s where God has me right now. Not too big, not too small, but just right.

So, now, it doesn't seem to matter much if I “succeed” because our God is more than notable. That is just right for me.

ninetyandnine.com

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Liz Fierge lives in Northern Kentucky with her loving husband, Dustin. In her spare time, she enjoys breaking into the neighbor’s house and eating their leftover food. It is often better than her own food. You can visit Liz at http://lizfierge.blogspot.com.