A university professor was at the pinnacle of his career. He had so many options and opportunities spreading out before him.

But he resigned. Why? To take care of his wife who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. I’m sure many of you already know how horrible it can be.

A “friend” of his—someone who knew the kinds of career prospects he was giving up—criticized him, saying that his wife didn’t even know who he was anymore.

“But, I know who she is,” he replied. “And I promised her that I would be there until death do us part.”

I highly doubt that that husband is happy every single day. But I can tell you this: He is faithful.*

Micah 6:8 called the Israelites back to faithfulness. It continues to be a good word for us all: “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

It’s not about getting tonnes of praise or climbing the ladder or centring your life only on what makes you bubbly and happy every single second.

No, life is more than that. Higher. More significant. And beautiful.

Are we focusing our lives on becoming “successful” or faithful?

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Notes:

—NEW podcast. My latest podcast is called “Hades, radical reversals, mercy, and time that runs out.” It’s an in-depth look at the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31. Click here or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.

–*As told in: Tony Campolo, Let Me Tell You A Story: Life Lessons from Unexpected Places and Unlikely People (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000), 88-89.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.