Skip to main content

BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF SUCCESS




When King David was about to die, he gave his son, Solomon the following advice: “Do what the lord your God commands and follow his teachings. Obey everything written in the Law of Moses. Then you will be a success, No matter what you do or where you go” 1 king 2:3 CEV) Notice that David didn’t tell his son together wealth from other lands, or to defect his enemies in battle. Instead his formula for success was to follow God and obey him. When Solomon became king, he didn’t ask the lord for wealth and power, but for widow and discernment in order to lead God’s people. God was pleased by this request and granted it, giving Solomon a wise and understanding heart, more than any man had ever had before .the also gave Solomon the things he didn’t as for –Riches and honor among men 1 KING 3:1-14. Solomon took his father’s advice to heart at least for most of his reign and reflected on it in his writing in proverbs:” 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 then around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight if God and Man” Proverbs 3:1-4 ESV)

Jesus reiterated this teaching in the New Testament when the declared which is the greatest commandment;” love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and strength. The second is this;” Love your neighbor as yourself. “There is no commandment greater than these”(MARK 12:30-31) Loving God means obeying him and keeping his commandment ( John 14:15,23-24). The first step in this process is accepting the free gift of eternal life offered by Jesus Christ (John 3:16) this is the beginning of true biblical success. When the gift is received transformation begins. The process is accomplished not by human will, but by God’s Holy Spirit John 1:12-13) How does this happen and what is the result? It happens first through trusting the lord and obeying him. As we obey him he transforms us, giving us a completely new nature 1 Corinthians 5:17 as we go through trouble and hard times, which the bible calls “Trials” we are able to endure with great peace and direction and we begin to understand that God uses those very trials to strengthen our inner person. John16:33; James 1:2. In other words trouble in life does not cause us to fail but to walk through trouble with God’s grace and wisdom by obeying God we gain freedom from the curses of this world – hate, jealousy, addictions confusion, inferiority complex, sadness without reason anger, bitterness, forgiveness selfishness and more.

In addition, followers of Christ, Christians possess and display the fruit of the spirit of God who resides in their hearts : LOVE, JOY,PEACE, PATIENCE,GOODNESS,KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS AND self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) we have at our disposal knowledge to know what to do and where to turn PROVERB 3:5-6  unhindered amounts of wisdom JAMES 1:5 and the peace that passes understanding PHILIPPIANS 4:7  as we grow and mature in Christ we begin to think not only of ourselves but of others. Our greatest joy becomes what we can do for other and give to others and how we can help them grow and proper spiritually .Those who have risen to these height of achievement understand true success, because a person can have all the power, money, popularity and prestige the world has to offer but if his soul is empty and bitter worldly success is really failure. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeit his soul or what can a man give in exchange for his soul MATHEW 16:26
One last word on biblical success .while transformation of our inner loves is God’s goal for us the also abundantly provides good physical gifts to this children (food, clothing, house etc.) and the loves to do it MATHEW 6:25-33.
 
Yet, most of us  at one time or another focus on the gifts rather than on the giver .That’s when we regress in our contentment and joy and quench the spirit’s transforming work with in us, because we are focusing on the wrong things. That may be why the lord sometimes limits his gift –giving to us, so we do not stumble over the gifts and fall away from him. Picture two hands,in the right hand there are the offer of true contentment, the ability to handle life problems without being overcome by them, amazing peace that see us through all circumstances, wisdom to know what to do knowledge and constant direction for life love for others acceptance  of ourselves joy no matter what  and at the end of life, an eternity with the God who freely gives all these gifts, The other hand holds all the money and power and success the world has to offer , without any of what the right hand holds. Which would you choose? The bible says,” where your treasure is, there is also your heart “ MATHEW 6:21, that which is in the right hand is the Biblical definition of success.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Amazing Health Benefits of Ugu leaf (Telfairia occidentalis)

English Name :          Fluted Pumpkin Leaves Local Name:                Ugu (Igbo) Botanical Name:      Telfairia Occidentalis This tropical vine known as Telfairia occidentalis  is well grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and also for its edible seed. It belongs to a member of the Curcurbitaceae  family and is indigenous to southern Nigeria. Ugu is mostly cultivated in Nigeria by the south eastern Nigeria, and widely distributed among the Igbo speaking people, particularly Abia state. It is mainly used    It is mainly used in soups and herbal medicines. The seed produced by the gourd are high in protein and fat, and can therefore contribute to a well-balanced diet.  It is widely cultivated in the West and Central Africa (Benin Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone to Angola, and up to Uganda in east Africa). It is called ‘ugu’ by the Igbos, ‘ugw...
Post a Comment
Read more

15 BIBLICAL VERSES ON RESTORATION

1.        Biblical Verse       1 JEREMIAH 30:17      For I will restore heaven to you, and all your wound. I will heal, declares the lord, because they have caused you an outcast: “it is Zion, for whom no one cares! 2.        JOEL 2:25-26 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the lord your God who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 3.        PSALM 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 4.        ACTS 3: 19-12 Repent therefore, and   turn again, thou your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dangers of Drinking Cold Water

As rewarding as drinking cold water can be, it could come with serious health consequences. Experts have said drinking cold water regularly could have negative impact on the heart and the digestive system. Food and healthy living expert say that cold water is at a temperature that contradicts the overall temperature within the body system. According to Dr. Tosin Akinsanya, a consultant nutritionist, though the body cannot have too much of water, it complains when it has too much of cold water. He explained that normal body temperature is between 34 and 37 oC while that of cold water is usually between zero and two degrees Celsius and the sudden change in temperature levels, which usually happens when we drink cold water, shocks the body, leading to chronic diseases in those who drink it over time. “ The body is made up of 70 per cent of warm water. Water is the most important fluid in the body because it is the medium blood uses. It is the medium which circul...
Post a Comment
Read more