Effort and Success

Let us look unto Jesus, and not to the apparent success of our efforts. Apparent success is not always the measure of real success; and, besides, God has not enjoined success upon us, but only labor. He will ask an account of our labor, but not of our success. Why, then, should we be too much concerned about it? We must sow the seed; God will gather the fruit. If not today, it will be tomorrow. If not for us, it will be for others. Even if success were to be granted us, it would be dangerous to look complacently upon it. On the one hand, we are tempted to claim for ourselves some of the glory; on the other hand, we are too prone to slacken our zeal when we cease to see good results arising from it; that is the very time when we ought to put forth double energy. To look at our success is to walk by sight; to look unto Jesus, and to persevere in following and serving him despite all discouragements, is to walk by faith.—Rev. A. Monod