Definition of Success: The World vs. The Word
As the world sees success, it is the
achievement of a social status, completing a goal, reaching an objective
or the achievement of an action in a specified set of time. The way God
defines success is so much different than the way the world does.
Success to those in the world means achieving something that is useful
in this life on earth. Success as God sees it is something that is
achieved that is of infinite, eternal value in this life and in the life
to come. That is a huge difference indeed. The Bible describes success
in a much different way than the world does.
Twenty Bible Verses About Success
Notice in the following passage that success is tied to the Lord being with us. When we have the Lord with us then we will prosper. That does not mean that everything will go perfectly because Joseph was later unjustly thrown in prison. Even with this, Joseph was faithful to God and God blessed all those around him and even a pagan ruler’s household was blessed as a result.
Genesis 39:2-6 “The
Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the
house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was
with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So
Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him
overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and
all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s
sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house
and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he
did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.”
Walking in Success
Psalm 1:1-3
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor
stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his
delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and
night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its
fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does,
he prospers.”
If you are not walking with the counsel
or advice of the wicked nor standing in the way of sinners or the way
that sinners are going and are also not sitting in the seat of scoffers
which means they scoff at God, then God will bless you. To be blessed
means to literally “make happy.” Your delight will naturally be in God’s
law and you will meditate day or night (all the time) and this means
that like a tree planted by a stream of water, you will never whither or
die but will always produce godly fruit and everything you do will
prosper.
Reading and Writing Success
Joshua 1:8
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according
to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
If the Book of the Law, the Bible,
doesn’t cease from being spoken and read by you and again, as in Psalm
1:1-3, you are meditating on it, and you’re careful to observe what it
says, you’ll be prosperous and have success, as far as God defines
success. And the way God defines success is the only definition that
counts.
…take the Word of God and write the words onto the tablet of our heart.
Proverbs 3:1-4
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my
commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will
add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind
them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you
will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
What God is saying here is to take the
Word of God and write the words onto the tablet of our heart. The heart,
in the Jewish language, was the seat of intellect. In other words, memorize some of the Bible.
If you do this you will have “length of days and years of life” and
“you will find favor and good success.” What more could a man or woman
want?!
Prayer of Success
Nehemiah 1:11
“O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and
to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give
success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this
man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.”
Success is more readily achieved if you
are in prayer as Nehemiah was and God used Nehemiah to rebuild the city
of Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s humility is evident as he said that he was
God’s servant and feared (or respected or revered) God’s name which
assured him of success…even in the sight of a pagan king.
Blameless Success
Proverbs 2:7 “He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.”
Notice that success and walking
blamelessly are tied together. James said that we cannot be near to God
in prayer unless we have clean hands and a pure heart (James 4:8). This
is why success comes to those who are blameless. Keep short accounts
with the Lord by confessing your sins daily.
Prosperity and Success
Genesis 24:40 ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son
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