A SUCCESSFUL LIFE by G. C. Tenney

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 7, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 27.

A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

By G. C. Tenney

BY ELDER G. C. TENNEY.

THAT is a grand truth which our Saviour enunciated when he said, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." But few mortals rise to its comprehension. The natural and prevailing impression is exactly opposed to the truth as taught by Jesus. We are sure to regard personal acquirement and possessions the goal of success, until we learn that success consists in giving rather than in getting, that it is more blessed to give than to receive or to withhold. At the basis of this truth lies the true object of life, which is the glory of God and good will to men. The very first condition in order to secure this object is the renunciation of self-interests as the principal end of life. Thus our Saviour says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself."

Volumes have been written on how to achieve success. The examples of Stewarts, Goulds, Vanderbilts, are held up for the emulation of the youth, because the men in their list have been successful in avarice or personal prowess. Their names stand in eminent places, because they have exhibited such a degree of selfishness as has enabled them to triumph over thousands of competitors, and to build themselves up through their downfall. Every monument of human greatness is the price of blood; the shout of triumph is but an echo of the sighs of oppression or the wail of despair; the stepping-stones to human glory are the bodies of those who have fallen in the strife.

Yet the youth are trained to look upon covetousness as a virtue, benevolence as folly, sharp dealing as a valuable faculty. Every enterprise is estimated by the money there is supposed to be in it; even life itself is valued upon the same scale. A very favorite motto, often inscribed upon our clocks, tells us that "time is money." It is an unworthy sentiment, a sordid estimate upon the most precious gift of God. Time is of far greater value than money. Time is probation; it contains the issues of eternity. Eternal interests are attached to each hour; the success of life consists in securing those interests, not only for ourselves, but for others around us.

We are not here simply to absorb and retain all that life or fortune brings within our reach, both of that which pertains to us and that which by right belongs to others. We need not one thing more than we can use to the glory of God and to the good of others. Success in life does not nearly so much depend upon the art of acquiring as upon the wisdom of bestowing; not so much upon the amount we gain, as upon what we do with that which we have. The question does not rest in what the world calls success, but in what God calls faithfulness.