Dear Editor,

We live in a world that puts a premium on success. We are challenged to be successful upon our graduation from high school and college.

We are also challenged to be successful at sports, work, relationships, finances and a host of other things.

Most of us compare our lives to those around us who appear to be successful.

The models presented to us frequently seem far from our grasp.

Our situations, locations and gifts seem very different.

You must remember if success happened to them, it can happen for you. You just need to place your faith in Jesus Christ, alone.

Faith in God is the foundation of any true success. Some people who are successful have little faith, and some have great faith; but all of them had faith in the person and message of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you may go and whatever you are required to do, have faith in Christ.

Be faithful and obey the commands and directive of God.

Therefore, do not compare yourselves with one another. Instead, measure yourselves against the ultimate standard of true success, which is to be a good steward of faithfulness.

Without faithfulness, everything else really does not matter.

Skill, talent, gifts and great opportunities are of no advantage if they are not accompanied with faithfulness to yourself and God.

The day will come when all of us will stand before Jesus Christ and give an account of our deeds.

We will be judged in light of what we have done with what God has given us.

We will be judged in light of whether we have made the most of our gifts, our opportunities and our ministries.

The test of true success lies in our faith in Christ alone and in our faithfulness to His commands and directives.

Go forth and live successful lives, knowing that though Christ all things are possible if you only have faith enough to believe.

Gloria Pinckney

Lunenburg