I talked to our youth about success and worldviews. When I asked them who they wished their life would be like when they get older, many of them picked people who were wealthy and famous (many of them also knew I was setting them up to make a point). So then we talked about if we would want our lives to be like any of Jesus' disciples. And they knew they should want to be like the disciples, but many of us didn't get too excited about the thought of being stoned for our faith like Stephen or imprisoned like Paul. But when you think about it which life was more successful? If we follow the worlds view of success, we may receive earthly comfort, but then what? Jesus as well as His disciples lived with a different view of the world. They lived in a way that showed they believed that eternal life with God was waiting for them. They lived in a way that showed they believed death could not conquer them and that giving up everything in this life was worth what you gain in eternal life.
So please don't misunderstand me. I am not saying I don't want our students to get a good education or have good jobs. It has greatly benefited me and helped me follow the Lord. And I also am not wishing that our students would endure suffering like that of the disciples. But our students are trying to find their purpose and thinking about how they can make their life and be successful. So I want to encourage you to look at how your Savior and His followers spent their time on this earth. I want to encourage you to take a look at what God has promised for those who place their faith in Jesus. And I want to encourage you to believe it and let your life reflect that you believe it. And I understand that as a parent you want so badly to keep your child safe and that they would never have to struggle, and please keep blessing them! But I hope what you want more than anything for their lives is that they would be following Christ with everything in them, no matter what the cost. And please lead our students with your words as well as your actions that their "success" or "worth" is not defined by how smart they are or how much money they make. Remind them that their worth comes from Christ. And they will make the most of this life by following Him and living for the life He gives to us.
I struggle with this because I don't want to suffer, and I don't want to have to give up things in this world. And the worlds view of success has probably influenced me greatly. But I do want to give everything to God. I want Him to help me have more faith to live with a kingdom mindset instead of an earthly one. And I know that the disciples, though they were killed, spent their life well. So let's encourage our students to be excited about what Jesus' has done and to think about what heaven is going to be like. Let's help it be a reality for them and increase their faith. Because our actions and values will influence them, and we need to make sure that we are leading them to find purpose and value in a way that is consistent with the Bible.