The True Statistics

I'm often tempted to measure success in ministry by what I can count. There's a role for counting. Numbers do tell us something. But in terms of measuring what really matters, the numbers that matter are often out of our own reach.

From time to time I am tempted to try to count...[But] the true statistics are kept "upstairs," where the computers and the computors are quite accurate, even though they don't publish their figures down here. (William Still, The Work of the Pastor)

Stephen Altrogge posted this excellent quote yesterday:

The way of health and humility is for us to admit to ourselves that in the final analysis we do not and cannot know the measure of our success as God sees it. Wisdom says: leave success ratings to God, and live your Christianity as a religion of faithfulness rather than an idolatry of achievement. (J.I. Packer)