More Than What Looks Good: Understanding Success in Our Culture

Introduction

Success is more than what looks good on the surface. In today’s world, we often chase shiny achievements that impress others. But real fulfillment comes from something deeper. This exploration helps us understand the difference between authentic and inauthentic success. We’ll discover why looking beyond surface-level accomplishments matters for true happiness.

The Bible reminds us of this truth: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God’s definition of success focuses on our character and faithfulness, not external achievements that merely look impressive to others.

What Society Tells Us About Success

We need to go beyond “more than what looks good” thinking in our achievement-focused culture. Outside markers often define success. These include a prestigious job title, financial wealth, academic degrees, or social status. We believe these to be true north. We celebrate these visible accomplishments. Additionally, we place them on pedestals as the ultimate measures of a life well-lived.

Yet beneath these shiny surfaces often lie unexpected costs. Such costs include strained relationships, internal emptiness, burnout, and disconnection from what truly matters. Research shows that authentic expression of self contributes significantly to well-being, with a positive relationship between authenticity and well-being (r = 0.40) (Living the good life: A meta-analysis of authenticity, well-being and engagement).

Jesus warned about this very trap: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Worldly success means nothing if we lose our spiritual foundation and authentic purpose in the process.

The Purpose of This Exploration

Examining Real vs. Fake Success

This exploration examines the tension between conventional success and authentic fulfillment. We’ll look at ten standard definitions of success that shape our dreams. Furthermore, these definitions also drive our daily choices. Each definition represents a legitimate human desire. Yet each can transform into a destructive force when pursued without deeper awareness. This happens when we lack balance.

Scripture teaches us: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9). True success requires surrendering our plans to God’s perfect will for our lives.

At Good Soil Ministries, we understand that preparing hearts for lasting fulfillment requires more than what looks good externally. Our Emotional Integrative Therapy approach helps people find authentic success that honors God.

Understanding False Fruit

What Is False Fruit?

As we journey through these definitions, we’ll also explore the “false fruit” concept. False fruit means behaviors that copy genuine connection and character. However, they lack authentic substance. Understanding the difference between genuine character development and its superficial imitation is crucial. This understanding helps us meaningfully redefine success.

Jesus spoke about recognizing authentic versus false fruit: “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17). True success produces lasting, beneficial results in our lives and relationships.

How False Fruit Misleads Us

False fruits represent the deceptive outcomes of following our Magnetic North. These are initially attractive results that appear to nourish us. But ultimately they leave us empty. Like a compass needle drawn away from True North, these misleading rewards seem right. They seem right at first glance, but they lead us progressively off-course.

They provide temporary satisfaction while steering us away from genuine fulfillment. Consequently, this lands us far from our intended destination and authentic purpose. Research on value fulfillment shows that subjective value fulfillment represents the extent to which people feel they can attain what they desire, which differs from simply valuing something highly (Subjective value fulfillment: A new way to study personal values).

The Bible warns: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). What looks successful to the world may actually lead us away from God’s best for our lives.

Recognizing these counterfeit achievements is essential for recalibrating our path. We need this to focus on what truly matters.

Learning from Real Stories

Stories of Worthy Goals Gone Wrong

The stories you’ll read aren’t cautionary tales about choosing the wrong goals. Rather, they’re about how even worthy aspirations can become distorted. This happens when divorced from a foundation of authentic values. It also happens when separated from meaningful connection.

Paul the apostle understood this principle: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Even good pursuits can become harmful when not grounded in God’s purposes.

Research demonstrates that pursuing more than what looks good requires authentic happiness approaches. Studies show that fulfilling one’s values predicts well-being over time, with self-direction fulfillment uniquely predicting increases in positive well-being (Value fulfillment and well‐being: Clarifying directions over time).

Recognizing Yourself in These Stories

As you encounter these narratives, you might recognize pieces of yourself. Maybe you’re the career-focused parent missing their child’s milestones. Perhaps you’re the wellness enthusiast whose pursuit of health becomes unhealthy. Alternatively, you could be the expert so invested in having all the answers. These experts can no longer hear other perspectives.

Jesus calls us to honest self-examination: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). True transformation begins with recognizing our own patterns and blind spots.

Our blog posts explore these patterns in detail, showing how people can concentrate on the wrong things in life.

Creating a Better Path Forward

Keeping Goals While Finding Deeper Meaning

The path to a more sustainable conception of success doesn’t require abandoning traditional goals. Instead, it invites us to ground them in something more profound. We need internal qualities and character strengths that remain stable. These remain when external achievements inevitably fluctuate.

The apostle Paul modeled this balanced approach: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:11-12). True success isn’t dependent on external circumstances.

By anchoring our pursuits in authentic values rather than cultural expectations, we create better lives. We can create lives of genuine fulfillment rather than hollow accomplishment. This means recognizing that true success is more than what looks good to others—it’s about what nourishes our souls and honors God.

Biblical Foundation for Authentic Success

Scripture provides clear guidance for authentic success:

Seek First God’s Kingdom: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). When we prioritize God’s purposes, He provides what we truly need.

Serve Others: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). True greatness comes through serving others, not self-promotion.

Build Character: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control” (2 Peter 1:5-6). Character development matters more than external achievements.

Trust God’s Timing: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Success includes learning to wait on God’s perfect timing.

At Good Soil Ministries, we help people discover this deeper foundation through our ministry training programs that prepare hearts for lasting transformation. Learn more through our contact page or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing biblical insights on authentic living.

Remember: true success is more than what looks good to the world—it’s about becoming the person God created you to be and using your gifts to serve His kingdom and bless others.