Every man is keeping score, whether he admits it or not. Some tally numbers in the bank account, square footage in the house, or the horsepower under the hood. Others measure it by job titles, social media followers, or how quickly people return their calls. From the time we’re young, the world hands us a scoreboard and says, “Here’s how you know you’re winning.”
I was a card-carrying member of the Keeping Score crowd. When starting my corporate career, I was fixated on having the title of manager, my name on a business card, and a private office. When I went over the wall and started my first consulting gig, each week, my focus was on having a certain balance in my corporate checking account. For some reason, that amount signaled success in my mind.
But here’s the problem: the scoreboard keeps changing. Hit the income level you dreamed about, and suddenly you need more. Achieve recognition at work, and it only lasts until the next project. Even in the church, success can get twisted—we celebrate packed services, polished platforms, or outward activity while neglecting the unseen soul. Ever consider joining a new church based on whether the attendance in going up or down? Whether the worship band played your favorite tunes, had a coffee bar, Wednesday evenings, or ample parking?
And yet, men rarely pause long enough to ask the deeper question: What if the scoreboard itself is broken? What if we’ve been defining success in a way that slowly empties us of life instead of filling us? Jesus offers a radical challenge: you can win by the world’s standards and still lose where it matters most.
Scripture
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world,
yet forfeit their soul?”
— Mark 8:36 (ESV)
Jesus didn’t waste words. This piercing question goes straight for the heart: what good is worldly gain if it comes at the cost of your soul? You can conquer markets, build empires, or even leave behind a legacy of accomplishments—but if your soul is bankrupt, what have you truly gained?
This isn’t Jesus downplaying hard work, skill, or excellence. It’s about priority and perspective. The eternal outweighs the temporary. The soul outweighs the scoreboard. And in God’s Kingdom, success is never about accumulation—it’s about surrender.
Application
So how do we apply the wisdom mentioned in the gospel of Mark? Have you been measuring your worth by performance, possessions, or the approval of others? Success, as the world defines it, will never satisfy because it always demands more. Even worse, it quietly costs us what matters most—our relationships with our Savior, family, and friends.
Ambition often has collateral damage. Marriages strain under neglect. Faith becomes secondary. A man’s identity shifts from a son of God to a man of the world. Burnout and stress enter the picture. Compromise becomes the norm, and corners must be cut to win. Friendships fade. Church becomes optional. Regret for these actions shows up too late.
Comparing ourselves with other men drives restlessness. We measure our progress against someone else’s social media page. Dissatisfaction sets in, and contentment becomes impossible to achieve. We keep telling ourselves to reach farther for something we may never attain.
The world has a twisted view of success. It says: win at all costs. Step on whoever you need to to get ahead. Drive competitors out of business, out-hustle your coworkers, outshine your peers. Success becomes less about faithfulness and more about domination. It’s not enough to finish well—you have to finish first.
Jesus redefines success entirely. He doesn’t say, “Win at all costs.” He says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23). In His Kingdom, greatness is measured by humility, strength by service, and winning by obedience.
Jesus defines winning as: faithfulness over fame, character over comfort, obedience over applause. That’s a scoreboard that doesn’t rust, fade, or shift with the trends.
Today’s Challenge: what does faithfulness look like today?
WARNING: This is going to be a brutal exercise. Write down what “success” has meant to you so far—be honest. Has it been wealth? Security? Recognition? Influence? Then make a second list: what you believe Jesus would call success in your life right now. Compare the two. Which one do you actually live by?
Then pray this:
“Father, I confess that I’ve been measuring my life by the wrong scoreboard. I’ve chased things that looked impressive but left me empty. Teach me to see success the way You see it. Give me courage to choose faithfulness over fame, obedience over applause, and surrender over self-promotion. Guard my heart from comparison and pride, and remind me that true success is walking with You daily. Amen.”
Final Thought
The applause of this world fades. The victories of today are not long remembered. People’s interest shifts to a new season. But the soul—that is eternal. On the day you stand before Christ, the only thing that will matter is whether you lived by His definition of success.
This week’s step: Each morning this week, ask yourself: “What does faithfulness look like today?” Write down your answer. At the end of the week, read back through your notes. You’ll start to see how God defines winning differently than the world does.
