Interviewer: Most people want to be successful in life, even though their definitions of success vary. Lots of people would like to be rich or to achieve fame so that they are admired by others, perhaps even idolized. What do You regard as success?

          God: To find and achieve your purpose for existence.

          In an earlier interview You defined this as loving You and loving others. Is that it?

          If you do those two things, you will be a success. However, every individual has his own personal destiny which, if fulfilled, would make him even more successful.

            That is interesting. We come pre-programmed to perform some great task, reach some great goal?

          It depends on what you mean by “great.”

            Becoming president or prime minister or something like that.

          I pity anyone wanting to become a head of state. No, that is greatness in man’s eyes, which does not necessarily correspond with My idea of greatness.

            Which is?

          To be of great service to mankind.

            But being a world or national leader would be of great service to mankind, wouldn’t it?

          I think that most people tend to think that politicians are more likely to be of great service to themselves or to the political system. Even the most idealistic politician is soon forced into compromise, and some are even corrupted by the political system. I think everyone is more likely to agree that someone like Mother Teresa is truly great.

            She was a saint in every sense of the word, but You don’t expect us all to attain that level of service and dedication, do You?

          What a wonderful world it would be if everyone would, don’t you think?

            So You would have us all be like that?

          If all were like that, then there would be no need for all to be like that. I am not expecting such heroics of everyone, but it would be wonderful if more were like her.

            So she is Your idea of success.

          She succeeded in her calling. She would not be persuaded from it, but pursued it with every ounce of spiritual and physical vigor that she could muster. I know that all people will not and could not do what she did, but they can do something to make the world around them a better place for others. I have designed mankind so that the giving of themselves to help others is the most satisfying thing that people can do. It makes every other measure of success pale by comparison.

            If that is the case, why aren’t more of us doing it?

          Many do—a few in great ways, most in small ways. The thing that holds people back is selfishness.

            But we are all selfish to some degree or another. It is human nature, the instinct for survival. If You intended us to be altruistic, why did You program mankind with selfishness?

          This world is a proving ground. Although there is selfishness inherent within man, there is also the ability to rise above it. Every individual has within him the potential to be a great force for good, if he only would.

            Very interesting! Another area that most of us like to be successful in is in relationships. Relationships are myriad, of course, but is there a general rule for success?

          Yes! Humility!

            I thought You would say love.

          Humility is love put into action. It regards the well-being and happiness of others as more important than one’s own. Therefore humility is the key.

            By definition, the opposite of humility is pride [conceit]. Does it then stand to reason that pride is what will cause a relationship to fail?

          Exactly!

            But a sense of pride is engrained in us since birth.

          Pride builds walls between people. Humility builds bridges. It reaches out to others.

            But shouldn’t we take pride in our achievements, abilities and talents, etc.?

          There is a fine line. You, of course, have a sense of satisfaction when you have done or made something worthwhile. But when people begin feeling that they are superior to others because of what they have done, then they are heading for disaster. Quite frankly, if you are hoping to be successful in a relationship, a swelled head is just about the last thing you need.

            What do You see, then, as a successful relationship?

          People in partnership with one or more others to achieve a greater good. People in partnership with others create synergy.

            Synergy being defined as the combined effect of two or more being greater than the sum of their individual effects?

          Yes. It is again part of the basic design. People working in combination with others can do more than they could have if they had all worked on their own. But in order for a relationship of any kind to truly prosper, there must be humility on the part of the participants.

            I think I am not that clear on what You mean by humility.

          Esteeming the other person better than yourself.

            But what if the other person isn’t as accomplished at things as I am?

          Then that takes more humility. Every person is different, so look for what you can admire in someone. Humility does not lift up self—it lifts up others.

            Well, this is something we are not accustomed to doing naturally, because many of us feel our opinions are the best, our methods are probably the best, and so forth.

          People’s tendency is to be proud, but pride never pays off, whereas humility always does.

            It seems to me that You put all the wrong tendencies in man, like pride and selfishness. Why?

          So man would need Me. The world is a giant demonstration to show that even a being as clever as man needs Me to be truly successful.

            Is that fair? Why would You create us and then hobble us with traits that guarantee our ultimate failure?

          Remember that I said I would help you to do whatever I ask you to. I did not make you perfect, that is true. But I did create in you the ability to choose the way that would lead to what will be the most perfect existence that you could imagine. Man also was created with the freedom of choice—to choose to follow Me or not.

          I have tried to make the bad effects of pride extremely obvious. Pride promotes love of self more than love of Me or others, and thus it wars against choosing My way. I am demonstrating to everyone the rewards of following Me in humility, rather than following oneself in pride.

            That is a lot to grasp.

          Yes, but it is again a matter of faith. If you believe what I am saying and then do it, you will find success in relationships, as in other areas of life.

          Excerpted from God on God, from Aurora Production AG. Write to one of the addresses on page 2 to order your copy.