Judging Success

We tend to judge success by many different measures. Money, fame, possessions, friends, and so on. But it is striking that Jesus judges success altogether differently. At the last judgment, He describes a life "well done" in terms of care shown to the poor. It is amazing the things that Jesus does not mention. He said in Matthew 25, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:34-40). This is the ultimate success as Jesus sees it. Maybe we should try to see it like He does.