What Is Success? (An excerpt from Joseph Parker)

Let us beware how we use that word "success" in connection with spiritual things. It is not an arithmetical term. A man is not failing because his pews are empty, a ministry is not necessarily a failure because there may not be numerical additions to the visible church. A man is not necessarily succeeding because his pews are crowded and because thousands enroll themselves on the register of the visible fellowship. We have nothing to do with, either failure or success we are called to sow the seed to do the work, to suffer and endure, and wait and hope, and God giveth the increase. Poor father and mother, you think you have had no reward in your family? Cheer up, you will have good harvest yet. You have planted and sowed and watered? Yes. God giveth the increase, thou canst not tell how are when or which way, leave it, dear honoured parent, and it will be well with the child.

Ministers of Christ, you say you have cried your very eyes out, and worked until your heart has been sore, and ached with great agonies, and no good seems to have come of your labour. Wait. In the morning sow the seed, in the evening withhold not thine hand, for thou knowest not which shall prosper, or whether both shall be alike good. Cast thy bread upon the waters and after many days thou shall find it. God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Labour more abundantly and more hopefully, and leave the Harvest to God, as he has left the seed time to you.

Joseph Parker (1830-1901)