How Does God Define Success Part? 2/2

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

             Do God and man have different opinions on what it means to be successful in life? According to the Bible, yes, they do. A man or woman could be the richest person in the world, but will that do him or her any good in light of eternity? Can they stand before God with all of their riches and buy their way into Heaven or purchase rewards they should have earned while here on earth?

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

             So, what makes a person successful in God’s eyes? The Bible answers that question very clearly in Joshua 1:8 (see above). Last week, we discussed the first key to being successful in God’s eyes: Meditate on God’s Word. Now, let’s look at the second key that God provides for us in His Word:

Obey God’s Word

that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…

            God tells us in Joshua 1:8 that if we want to be prosperous and have good success, then (after we spend time meditating on His Word) we must do the things that we read therein. In short, we must obey God’s Word.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (James 1:22-24)

             Most people, when they look in the mirror and notice a spot or smudge of dirt on their face will wipe it off, or if they notice a stain on their clothes, they’ll change—this is normal human behavior. Most people want to look clean and presentable in front of others. God tells us that if we know what His Word says and we don’t obey it, then we are as foolish and ridiculous looking as someone who leaves the smudge on his face or stain on his clothes.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (John 8:31)

             Jesus said that we are only truly His disciples if we continue in His Word, meaning continue to believe it and obey it. How can we call ourselves Christians if we do not desire to obey God’s Word? Shame on us if we can go about our lives knowingly doing things that are contrary to what God would have us do!

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God… (Deuteronomy 11:26-28a)

             When God gave His law to the Israelites at Sinai, He spoke very plainly to them: Obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. While much of the Bible was not written to us, all of it was written for us. These blessings or curses apply to us as well.

             God states again in the New Testament:

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25)

             The phrase “living your best life” is an incredibly toxic phrase to a Christian. This life here on earth is not the only life a person will live. While this may be the best life a lost person can have, for Christians, this life is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us in Heaven. Is the wood, hay, and stubble of this world more important to us than the gold, silver, and precious stones of eternal glory? God help us if it is.

In Conclusion…

             No Christian, at the end of his life, will think “I wish I hadn’t spent so much time serving God, going to church, or reading the Bible.” However, many will think (either on their deathbed or when standing before God) “I wish I had done more for God.” “I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time trying to get more money or things.” “I wish I hadn’t cared so much whether my kids were in sports, but instead cared about whether they were in church.”

            The choice is ours. If we want to be successful where it really counts, in light of eternity, then we must live our lives in obedience to God’s Word. There’s an old chorus that goes, “With eternity’s values in view, Lord, With eternity’s values in view…May I do each day’s work for Jesus with eternity’s values in view.” Oh, how different our lives would be if we looked at them under the light of eternity.

for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

Have I Done My Best for Jesus?

I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calv’ry!
I know my Lord expects the best from me.

Refrain:
How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?
I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
When He has done so much for me?

The hours that I have wasted are so many,
The hours I’ve spent for Christ so few;
Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,
I wonder if His heart is breaking too. [Refrain]

I wonder, have I cared enough for others,
Or have I let them die alone?
I might have helped a wand’rer to the Saviour,
The seed of precious Life I might have sown. [Refrain]

No longer will I stay within the valley–
I’ll climb to mountain heights above;
The world is dying now for want of someone
To tell them of the Saviour’s matchless love. [Refrain]

Words: Ensign Edwin Young Music: Harry E. Storrs

To read more of what the Bible says about obedience, please click here.

To read what we believe about the Word of God, click here for our Statement of Faith.

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