What is success in God's eyes?

If we think about it, God has a drastically different idea of success compared to us who live in the middle class 21st Century. John the baptist was born not rich, spent decades in the desert, had a huge impact preaching the gospel for a few years, had little by way of finances, discipled a small band of people and died alone in prison, poor and with his disciples scattered to the wind. His ministry had no lasting legacy to his own name - except that they were subsumed to a greater legacy- to become disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. By all criteria which we would evaluate professional ministers today, he would be an abject failure if he lived in our age. Zero possessions and finances, not much clothing to speak of, massive following - viral success but only for a for the briefest time - but no successor and no organization to continue his work - his own disciples did not carry on his teachings, they updated their beliefs, and so he had no lasting legacy in the world, he possessed zero material comforts of a home, or even a bed. Earned the wrath of the political elite by speaking truth to Herod and his wife. Died by execution, alone, poor, and abused in a prison cell. No name, no possessions, no fame.

Yet Jesus declares - Matt 11:11 ‘among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist’ - Jesus says - here’s the greatest prophet who had ever lived, greater than Elijah, greater than Moses. Apparently John achieved the will of God for his life - which was to prepare the way of repentance and holiness by turning many to Jesus. His whole life was pleasing to God and though he might have been regarded by many to have been insignificant in the world - poor, despised and persecuted, to God, he played a vital and essential part fulfilling his role faithfully in bringing repentance, in the plan of God - and in the history of the gospel on earth.

How are we evaluating our lives? Are we depressed because we are using worldly measures of success? God has a different way of measuring success - even in prison when there was no sign or visible outward indicator of fruitfulness, John was successful. Are we doing what He wants us to do and faithful in it? That is the only definition that God uses for us today.