By Mike Krick | Sr. Advocacy Director
I remember as a student at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI, hearing a speaker share this quote: “There is one thing in life I fear more than failure, and that is being successful in something that doesn’t count.” Hard to believe, but that was nearly 20 years ago!
The quote rocked my world then, and it still rocks my world. But I read that quote differently now. In my personal journey with Christ, I am working on what that quote looks like when only God matters. My tendency is to do something that “counts,” even good “religious” things, in an effort to please people. I am often guilty of caring more about what people think than what God thinks.
What A.W. Tozer says in The Pursuit of Man resonates with me:
“The desire for social approval is a taskmaster. The desire to please men is the backbone of all social acts. Some may seem to have escaped from the snare, but they have in reality merely narrowed the circle of those they desire to please. David said, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none on earth that I desire (to please) beside thee.’ How can we uproot our life-drive from pleasing men to pleasing God? It must be a supernatural act. Only God matters.”
God has been teaching me much over the past year in the area of humility and in the area of utter reliance on Him. It has been difficult in many ways, but I am grateful for it. My relationship with the Father continues to grow. My role as a husband and father is challenging and exciting, all at the same time. And my passion for the orphan and my resolve to have a Kingdom impact continues to tug at my heart.
I feel beyond blessed to be serving alongside a group of people at World Orphans who are like-minded in passion for orphan care, the church, and the communities we have the privilege to serve in. God continues to amaze me in His provision of churches “here” and “there” that we get to partner with, learn from, and hear their beautiful stories. I pray our efforts are not an attempt to please man, but continue to be pleasing to God, our hope, our rock, our deliverer. Only God matters!