Biblical meaning of success

Joshua 1:8-9 (NLT)

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

Who do you view as successful in life?  Do you see yourself as successful?  Is your business or church successful?  What is success?

Everyone desires and hopes to be successful in life.  Every business, church, team, program, event, etc hope to be successful.  We typically define success as winning, meeting/exceeding goals, possessing wealth, position, and power.  Is an all-pro football player a success in life?  Is a Fortune 500 CEO, or any CEO, for that matter, viewed as successful?  Is a church with 10,000 members viewed as a successful church?  Is a business that keeps climbing the profit ladder seen as successful?  Is a person who accumulates wealth and status admired by others for all his/her success?

Yet, what is common about all these examples of success? 

1.     They are defined by human viewpoints, not God’s view through His Word.

2.     They are based on worldly values, not the values of God. 

3.     They are temporal measures and achievements, not eternal. 

What does the Bible mean by success?  Well, look at the above passage (as well as study Psalm 1:1-3, Proverbs 3:5-10, and Proverbs 22:4).  Verse 1:8 says “Only then…….”  The words “only” and “then” are keys.  There is one specific thing that must be accomplished…..referred to as “only”…..and such accomplishment precedes (referred to as “then”) prosperity and success.  So what is the key to success in life, not only this life, but the life to come?  Being obedient to God.  And what helps you to be obedient to Him?  Studying His Word continually and meditating on it day and night.         

The keys to success are simple to remember, but difficult to practice.  OK, sure, spend quality time in God’s Word and think about it as much as you can.  Sure, that’s easy to remember.  However, it is so much more difficult to practice these disciplines day after day for the rest of your life.  Yet, being successful in God’s view involves your efforts to be faithful and obedient regardless of the cost.  You will be successful in His view because by studying and meditating and obeying His Word, you will be accomplishing His purposes for you while on this earth.  And, indeed, His purposes for you in this life could very well be achieving great things in the athletic and/or business world as well as in ministry and/or other endeavors He has planned for you to accomplish.  Yet these accomplishments are following His ways, not your own. 

You will be both prosperous and successful in all that you do in and with your life if you stay close to the Word of God.  Prosperity means being rich and could include being rich financially, but it mostly means being rich in your enjoyment of your life.  Prosperity includes being content, being at peace with God and others, being genuinely happy with what goes on with your life everyday.  Of course, events happen that challenge your contentment, peace and happiness, events such as illness, family problems, job problems, loss, disappointments, failures, etc.  However, your overall attitude toward whatever is happening in your life is balanced and controlled by your deep faith in the Word of God and all His promises to take care of you and all your needs.  You must believe this to enjoy a life of prosperity and success.  Do you? 

“Success is a journey, not a destination” --- Unknown