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In the words of H. W. Beecher, "Success is full of promise till men get it, and then is as a last year's nest, from which the bird has flown." Doesn't that say it all? Don't most of us live on a continual treadmill for more and better things, when once achieved are still never enough? We'll never find happiness by spending our money on things that are of no worth or our labor on that which cannot satisfy. True happiness comes by drinking of the "living water" which Christ offered the woman at the well. Speaking of the water she had, He said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

We experience that gnawing thirst when we define our own success or failure based upon the world's definitions. I used to be this way. I defined personal success by how well my business did -- how much money it made or how much acclaim I received. I lived my life feeling like I was continually on the verge of some next big break that would solve all my money problems and make me independently wealthy. Besides the fact that the "big break" never really came -- leaving me continually frustrated -- what I did obtain never satisfied me. This path is just a continually thirst that is never quenched.

I have come to the conclusion that we must redefine success as what truly makes us happy. And there is no greater happiness than in serving the Lord and living His divine plan for your life. When we "seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; all these things (like food, raiment, shelter) shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

Not until I realized that money and praise would never make me happy, stopped comparing my success to that of others, ceased comparing my weaknesses to other people's strengths, and began seeking for the spiritual over the temporal, did I find contentment and peace that lasts. I learned that if you step off the treadmill, you'll find no more need for the world's measure of success, because you will be truly happy serving the Lord. Christ's living waters quench the thirst for "more and better."

So if we redefine success as happiness, how do we achieve happiness? How do we drink from Christ's living waters? The Bible tells us how:

• Have the Lord as our God. "Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD." (Psalms 144:15) "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Psalms 146:5)
• Serve others. "He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. (Proverbs 14: 21)
• Keep the commandments of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29: 18) "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17) Note that he could have said, "unhappy are ye if ye don't."
• Stand up for the truth even amidst persecution. "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3: 14)
• Allow the Lord to correct you. "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)
• Find joy in your posterity. "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." (Psalms 127:4-5)

The word "success" is found only one time in the Bible in Joshua 1:8:

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

Success, prosperity and happiness come by living according to the word of God. We must feast upon the words of Christ, observe to do them and seek God first; and then everything else will fall into place. I have put this principle to work in my own life. When I focused on money and fame, I was not as happy or prosperous (even by the world's standards) as when I put God first, did my best and let Him make up the rest.

1. Hartman Rector Jr., "Success: A Journey or a Destination?" Ensign, July 1973, 57