COUNT THE COST

Often times we may look at people we consider “successful” and wish we had their lives and their status but have we ever stopped to consider what it may have cost them to reach that point of “success”? (For the sake of this blog post we’ll define success according to Merriam-Webster, as “the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.”-www.merriamwebster.com) Even though the Word of God says that we should esteem others better than ourselves and encourage our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ  (Phil 2:3- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil+2&version=NKJV) it is very evident that is not what’s happening today.  The “comparison demon” has run rampant and wreaked havoc amongst people throughout the land. There’s so much envy and jealousy everywhere in the world that “haterade” flows freely!  And for what?  Because one person wants another’s gift or operates in the same gift but thinks he or she is better than a Brother or Sister so he or she should have the favor and success that the Brother or Sister is experiencing.  If I may borrow some lyrics from one of my favorite artists, VaShawn Mitchell’s song and just say, “You don’t know MY story, all the things that I’VE been through. You can’t feel MY pain, what I had to go through to get here. You’ll never understand MY praise. Don’t try to figure it out because MY worship, MY worship is for real”. (VaShawn Mitchell. “My Worship is for Real”. Believe In Your Dreams. Tyscot 2005)  * personal P&W moment*

So when some of us see the applause and the bright lights, the headlines and the ‘bling-bling” that some artists may have and begin to wish we had their “success” here are some things to consider:

1) Being “successful” has benefits but it’s important to keep in mind that it also comes with a great cost. And the cost often includes a greater responsibility as well People are watching and you have the power to influence them. “As many people as you can help…you can also hurt” (Joyce Meyer).

It’s wonderful to have your name in lights and for everyone to know your name but the cost is often a loss of privacy.  It’s wonderful to have lots of money to buy things and to be able to do things for people but the cost is a greater pressure in your stewardship to not let the love of money and things overtake you.   It’s wonderful that “success” can bring a flood of people into your life but the cost is often the disappointment of finding out that most of the people that flock to you have no desire to know you or be real friends but want the benefits of the notoriety and the material things being around you affords them. 

2) Being “successful” often requires discipline and commitment and an ability to make tough choices.

Many “successful” people have shared with me that achieving their success often meant being alone more than they desired because they had to make tough choices such as whether or not to hang out or put the time into to practicing or studying or rehearsing to develop their talents.  Some have even said that traveling on the road may seem glamorous but it’s often very grueling. And there’s often a sacrifice of spending time with family.

3) Being “successful” often puts you in the spotlight; which brings its own set of challenges.

Welll known Pastor and Author, TD Jakes, said it best several years ago at one of his God’s Leading Ladies Conferences that I attended; “Don’t seek the spotlight if you can’t stand the heat.” Rest assured if you become “successful” some imp out there is going to pull out the search light and make it their sole mission to find every one of your flaws and mistakes to expose your dirt.  Other imps will just tell bold-faced lies because they don’t like you.  As if that isn’t hot enough, the pressure of the spotlight can sometimes tear families and friendships apart. Once the curtain goes up on stage you are out there and the audience is watching.  You only get one opportunity to make a first impression and you don’t get to choose the audience to whom you will appear. That’s the pressure of the spotlight.

If more of us would take the time to consider these things and to count the cost when we glimpse a fellow artist’s (Brother or Sister’s) “success” perhaps we could get delivered from the “haterade” drink and even clean up some of the damage left by that “comparison demon”.  What do you think?  Have you been sipping “haterade” or have you been the one hated?  Tell me about your experience and how you’ve overcome or are overcoming it.