Movitation And Success

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

“Fools fold their idle hands,
    leading them to ruin.”

And yet,

“Better to have one handful with quietness
    than two handfuls with hard work
    and chasing the wind.”

—Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

May my sole motivation for all that I do be to serve You in love—out of a heart filled with loving gratitude for all that You have done for me—and may I only measure my success by whether I have faithfully submitted my will to the Lordship of Christ—finding my contentment within the quiet peace of Your presence.

Let me not fall to the temptation to envy my neighbor, by allowing myself to compare my circumstances, possessions or position to theirs.

Rather, let me see the meaninglessness of chasing after that which will never be enough and will only imprison me into spending all my time trying to hold onto—with tightly clinched fists—that which I can never truly hold in the first place.

And also keep me from falling to the temptation to foolishly fold my hands in lazy idleness—and ignorantly not expect it to lead to my own ruin.

But instead, let me strive to bring You glory by being faithful to the specific work that You have given me to do—and trust You to supply my every need.

Help me be content to stand before You with an open hand raised to You, allowing You to place within it all that I need—and inviting You to remove from my hand anything that would keep me from You.

May my sole motivation for all that I do be to serve You in love—out of a heart filled with loving gratitude for all that You have done for me—and may I only measure my success by whether I have faithfully submitted my will to the Lordship of Christ—finding my contentment within the quiet peace of Your presence.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.