What Is True Success

God does want us to be successful, but what God’s idea of success as opposed to the worlds?

Worldly Success

As far as the world is concerned, success is the achievement of a social status, completing a goal, reaching an objective, or achieving a specific action, but God see success differently than we do because it’s radically different than the way the world sees it. Success is so much more than money, friends, power, or influence. Worldly success generally means accomplishing something useful in this life, however God sees it as something totally opposite. Our focus is on the life to come, although not to the exclusion of those around us.

Success in Work

Genesis 39:2-6 says that “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.” You might notice that success is not connected to wealth or power, but it’s the Lord being with us. That does not mean that everything will go perfectly because Joseph was later unjustly thrown in prison, but even with this, Joseph was faithful to God and God blessed all those around him.

Seated with Scoffers

If you are not walking in the counsel or advice of the wicked, nor standing in the way of sinners, or the way that sinners are going, but also not sitting in the seat of scoffers, then you are successful. It says, “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” (Psalm 1:1-3). When people scoff at you because of your faith, you are blessed (Matt 5:10-12; 1 Pet 4:13-14), because the man and woman of God will delight in God Himself and in His Word. It will be their meditation, day and night (all the time). The effect is like being a tree planted by a stream of living water; you will never whither or die, but will always produce godly fruit. That’s success in God’s eyes.

Prayer and Success

God told Joshua, “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” (Joshua 1:8). If you’re careful to observe what it says, you’ll be prosperous and have success, as far as God is concerned. And the way God defines success is the only definition that counts. When Nehemiah wanted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, he prayed, “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.” (Neh 1:11). Success is more readily achieved if you are in prayer like Nehemiah was, and as a result, 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. The Proverbs say, “He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless” (Prov 2:7). James said that we cannot be near to God in prayer unless we have clean hands and a pure heart (James 4:8), so this explains why success comes to those who are blameless in God’s eyes. Keep short accounts with the Lord by confessing your sins daily, and like Isaac, “The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way” (Gen 24:20a).

David’s Success

David may not have looked successful because even though God had anointed him as the next king of Israel, he was running for his life. David let God work this out in His own time and in His own way and didn’t try to force God’s hand, and even though David had at least two opportunities to kill King Saul, he knew success was only possible if the Lord was with him and He waited upon Him. It said that “David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him” (1 Sam 18:14). Even though God had already established David as the next king of Israel, David waited on the Lord to establish his rule. That’s one of the reasons that David had success “in all his undertakings.”

Honoring Parents

The Bible says that success is not possible if you and I don’t honor our parents. In fact, the 4th Commandment contains a promise from God. It says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Deut 5:16). Families are the foundation of any nation and if the family breaks down, in time, so will the nation, but if a child does honor their parents, “it may go well” with them and their “days will be prolonged,” so things will go much better we’ll live a longer life if we honor our parents, and it doesn’t only say “if they deserve it” or were good parents.

Acknowledging God

Solomon was the wisest man on earth at the time, and few approached his wisdom even years afterwards, and he wrote, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov 3:6). What this means is we must give glory to God for all our blessings (Psalm 115:1; 1 Cor 4:7). When God straightens your paths, it’s easier to walk the path of life. Maybe one of the greatest sins of mankind is not being thankful, but when we acknowledge that God has blessed us and are thankful, He will straighten the crooked paths so that we won’t stumble.

Financial Success

In the last book in the Old Testament, Malachi wrote, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Mal 3:6). Here we see that financial blessings or financial success is tied to being generous. God cannot pour blessings into hands that are clinching tight their possessions, but if we release our blessings with open hands, only then can God pour back blessings into our hands all that we will ever need, or as Malachi says, “until there is no more need” or room to receive it. David told Solomon to “keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kings 2:4). It is the Lord “who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deut 8:18).

Conclusion

Jesus told Nicodemus that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). At first glance, this may not seem to be about success, but how much greater can success be than to receive eternal life? If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved. Although there is no promise of escaping trials in our present life, this will ensure success in this life and the life to come. That is the greatest possible success anyone could ever hope for. That is my prayer for you today.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is a writer at Christian Quotes and also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.