Recent news has shocked the entire world with the arrest of a man whose stroke of the pen could deliver or sink a country economically. His name is Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, better known as DSK. The description of his rise to prominence is enviable.
  Who would not relish the opportunity of spending a night in a $3,000 a- day- hotel room? It baffles my mind to

 imagine what the room looks like. Who would refuse an opportunity to fly first class wherever and whenever you fly? I had that opportunity once.
Hardly had I sat down than I was offered a choice of drinks to satisfy any stray appetite, including alcoholic beverages. I was not tempted to slide that way. This man’s lifestyle was the very definition of success but for one thing!
He was arrested to answer charges of sexual assault, including attempted rape! Since his arrest, testimonies of his sexual escapades have surfaced. It is said that he also had confessed before this incident that he could not keep away from girls.
I think of another man, a real estate millionaire. He has sailed through several divorces, and tasted near bankruptcy. On the face of it he passes for a very successfulman.
Yet he cannot keep a marriage together for long. Is he successful?
Or think of the richest man in the world in his day, Howard Robard Hughes. He died a recluse in 1976, so disfigured that it is said they used his fingerprints to identify his body! He was rich, and successful by certain definitions.
The word ‘success’ is increasingly more misunderstood even in churches today. It is defined in terms of material success. I recently asked some people to tell me what it means.
One defined it as the ability to access all the material things you ever desired.
What qualities characterise success?
The first is personal discipline.
 (1 Corinthians 9). All the wealth of the world cannot compensate for a life of self-control and moral uprightness.  Indiscipline has been the undoing of many. You need to discipline your body.
As Albert Einstein put it, “Try not to become a man of success, rather to become a man of value.” Similarly, Albert Schweitzer said, “A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up.”  That is, you should take care not to lose your life in your pursuit of success.
Secondly, success is achievement of your goals. Paul set himself a goal which he received from God and, accomplishing that goal was his consuming passion (Acts 20.18-24). But it is more than just achieving a goal. It is success when achievement of your goal transforms where you are.
Many people sail through life without a worthy goal. They live for the immediate pleasure, for selfish ambition. Even upward academic movement may become an end we pay our life for.
Finally, real success is service to others (Philippians 2.3-11). Success cannot be divorced from the benefit to others; that was Jesus’ example. If I labour solely for what I can achieve and get out for myself, it is a recipe for frustration.
I remember one tycoon who calls for attention at the slightest opportunity. One time he donated an amount unbefitting of his status and called for newspaper recognition!
These three typify godly success. Amen.

Rev. Dr. John Senyonyi is the UCU vice chancellor