Reformission in University – Success

Success Driven Students

Some success driven students are particularly hard to reach as they often fail to engage in the culture of University themselves. Some can be so focused on academia that they give little time to think about much else. It is important then to make the most of the time that is spent in the study environment – how can we live and act in a way which commends the gospel to these students? I should point out that most of these things are things which I should have done, I didn’t do most of them!!

How we live for Jesus:

• Work hard – we’re made for work (Gen 2:15), work as though working for God (Col 3:23)
• Be part of your course – go to lectures, sit next to people (and talk), go to the socials
• Make the most of collaborative working tasks – a great chance to meet and chat with coursemates, keep up those conversations.
• Be indiscriminate about who you speak with, sit next to, hang out with on course – be the friend to the loner, the exchange student, the hippy
• Be the Christian – not in a clichéd way, but let people know why you work hard, maybe if people have questions/issues they will come to you knowing that you are ‘the Christian’
• Find other Christians on the course, not to be a holy huddle, but to pray for your coursemates and to encourage one another
• If God has given you gifts and calling, then work towards further study or well-paid careers – it’s not a bad thing to be successful in the eyes of the world if that is where God has called you.
• Be humble in your successes. Acknowledge where success, knowledge and all good gifts come from.

Why do students work hard, why do they want to be successful? I guess there’s lots of reasons; perhaps for money, maybe in order to pursue a specific career, a sense of personal pride, or what about the pressure of parents? Ultimately the answer to these questions is that we are all looking for ‘treasures’ (Piper) and ‘saviours’ (Driscoll).

How we speak about Jesus:

• There’s no point in talking about rich, successful people who aren’t happy, most people I know with money are fairly content… rather, we need to show that Jesus is infinitely more valuable than the treasures of this world – he is Saviour, Creator, King, Joy-giver
• Why not challenge the pride of the person who seeks success and the praise of men with the humility and sacrificial love of Christ?
• The prosperity gospel would present Jesus as King (throne, wealth, victorious), while that is true it’s not helpful for this audience. Can we not challenge these students with the Jesus who was humble, poor, and gave himself for others – the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1 Corinthians 1:25)
• Grace, Grace, Grace. Grace challenges the religious mindset of the success driven student – their attitude is surely I must do something, achieve something, be successful in order to merit salvation.
• God has set eternity in the hearts of men, but most ignore it, we need to show people that we’re dealing in eternity and earthly success has little value in the light of eternity – Mark 8:36, What good is it to gain the world, but forfeit your soul?? – I dare you to ask that question!
• For those who have pressures from parents, we can present our Father who does not demand perfection, but gives it freely

…just some thoughts – what would you add? How would you explain the gospel to the student who thinks in this way…? Next two groups coming soon!