There is a question that has stayed with me for a long time.

What if the life we are working so hard to build is not the life God called us to live?

We live in a world that constantly celebrates success. Promotions are applauded. Businesses are valued by revenue. Careers are measured by titles. Social media has made visibility look like significance.

But every now and then, I pause and ask myself another question.

Is success still success if it takes you away from your purpose?

That question changes everything.

Many people spend their entire lives climbing ladders without ever asking whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. They become so focused on achieving more that they never stop to ask who they are becoming or why they started in the first place.

It is possible to be admired by people and still be disconnected from the assignment God has placed on your life.

I have come to realise that purpose is not always the most profitable path. It is not always the most popular either. Sometimes obedience requires walking away from opportunities that everyone else would celebrate because you know they are distractions from what God has called you to do.

That is not easy.

We all want to succeed. We all want to provide for our families. We all want our work to make an impact. There is nothing wrong with building wealth or pursuing excellence. The real question is this:

Who is defining success for you?

Is it society?

Is it comparison?

Or is it God?

One day, every achievement we celebrate today will become history. The titles will be passed on. Businesses will change hands. Awards will gather dust. Possessions will eventually belong to someone else.

But purpose has eternal value.

The life that truly matters is not the one that accumulated the most, but the one that fulfilled God's assignment.

Perhaps that is why I believe our greatest question should never be, "How successful am I?"

Instead, we should ask:

"Am I becoming the person God created me to be?"

That question keeps us grounded.

It reminds us that success without purpose can leave us feeling empty, while purpose, even without applause, brings peace that success alone can never provide.

So today, I leave you with a few questions to reflect on:

• Are you building the life God called you to build, or the life others expect you to build?

• If everything you own disappeared tomorrow, would you still know who you are?

• Are your daily decisions moving you closer to your purpose or simply closer to more possessions?

• At the end of your life, what do you want heaven to remember about you?

I believe the greatest tragedy is not failing.

It is succeeding at something God never asked you to do.

Because in the end, the question that matters most is not how much of the world we gained, but whether we faithfully fulfilled the purpose for which we were created.