Question 1

What is true success in God’s eyes?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 22:37Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’”Mark 10:23-27Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”John 17:3“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”Success is knowing God and living in a way that pleases him. It is loving him with everything we have—our heart, soul, and mind. The more we know him the more we will love him because he is love.2 Corinthians 5:9So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.Success involves truly pleasing God. We need to form our agenda from what God teaches us. Our goals should ultimately be rooted in what we can achieve with integrity and in ways consistent with loving God and others.Acts 16:31“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”Faith in Jesus brings true success because only through faith will we receive salvation and eternal life.2 Corinthians 5:9So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.True success requires obedience to God. When we are obedient, we accomplish all that he wants us to do, and that is enough.Psalm 119:28I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.Psalm 119:54Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived.Knowing and following God’s Word brings success because it reveals God’s will for our lives. Following God’s plan will always be our best path to success. God’s Word teaches us truth, and whatever is true can be counted on, providing a strong foundation for a fulfilling and productive life.Joshua 1:8-9“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.”Psalm 119:115Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.1 Kings 2:3-4“Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”We will be successful as followers of Jesus when we commit to vigorous spiritual training and preparation (Ephesians 6:10-18). We should begin by reading God’s Word consistently and inviting God to be part of our lives every day. When we consistently obey God’s Word, we will experience victory over our fears, over Satan’s tactics to derail our relationship with God, and ultimately, over sin and death. We will then experience incredible joy.Matthew 20:26“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”Serving and helping others brings success, for in serving others we find true joy.Psalm 84:10A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.John 15:8, 16“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. . . . You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”Philippians 1:22If I live, that means fruitful service for Christ.Success involves being productive—doing things that matter to God, even if they matter little in the world’s eyes. The Bible calls this “bearing fruit.” This kind of fruit grows out of our relationship with Jesus and our commitment to living by what he taught.Deuteronomy 30:6-9“The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! . . . Then you will again obey the Lord and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do.”Pleasing God is the key to success. The Lord blesses those who obey, because they live according to his intentions for them. God works in our hearts to make us spiritually successful.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Proverbs 16:3Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.Committing all we do to God is itself success. We must put God first in our lives, for only then will we understand what is really important.Mark 4:19“All too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”True success comes by following God’s direction, but this will be derailed by our attraction to worldly things. If we long for money, position, power, fame, or pleasure, we will spend our energies to get these things, undermining our pursuit of God.

Question 2

What are the dangers of living for worldly success?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 13:10-13Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.It is easy to be seduced by appearances and overlook the evil beneath. Lot chose the fertile valley of Sodom, not caring that its cash crop was wickedness. This would later lead to his wife’s death—and other dreadful consequences.Luke 9:25“What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”Luke 12:16-21Then he [Jesus] told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”The greatest danger in being successful by the world’s standards is failing to succeed by God’s. Gaining the world only to lose our soul is the ultimate failure.Mark 4:19“All too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”Being consumed by worldly things will keep us from pursuing the success that comes by following God. By focusing all our attention on gaining money, position, power, or fame, we will miss the blessings of God’s good plan.

Question 3

Is it okay to try to be successful in this life?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 60:12With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.Psalm 84:11The Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.Proverbs 12:24Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.Proverbs 22:29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.There are many godly character traits that, if applied to life, can bring material success (hard work, integrity, commitment, serving others, planning). Those committed to God shouldn’t make success their primary focus, but pursuing the qualities of a godly person can sometimes lead to their success.Genesis 39:2-3The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.Exodus 33:14The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”Job 42:12-17So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. . . . Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.Throughout the Scriptures, there are references to God’s material blessings for his people. God allows his people to have material blessings, but urges them never to forget the One who provided them. It is always a bad investment to sacrifice spiritual wealth to pursue worldly wealth.Proverbs 16:3Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.Earthly success can be a worthwhile goal, but commitment to God is even more worthwhile. Only when our work is done from a position of commitment to God can we consider ourselves to be truly successful.

Question 4

How do I keep my focus on godly success?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 92:12-15The godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”Proverbs 16:3Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.The first step toward our success is being willing to let go of our own agenda and commit to God’s. Making this our life-long pursuit will yield wonderful results.Proverbs 15:22Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.We should trust God to guide us through the wise counsel of people who can be trusted.Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”We need to look for the kind of treasure we will find when we get to heaven; then our hearts will be in the right place. This requires that we set priorities and measure accomplishments by God’s standards, not worldly criteria. We cannot always ignore worldly standards, but we must keep them in perspective.1 Timothy 4:7-10Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.Spiritual fitness keeps us vigorous for spiritual success.Philippians 3:12-14I [Paul] don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.2 Timothy 4:6-8As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.Constant awareness of our heavenly reward helps us remain faithful. It lessens the impact of the temporary distractions of this life.Psalm 44:3-4They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.Proverbs 21:31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.God is the one who gives success. We may be as prepared and diligent as possible, but we should never trust only in our preparation or our resources; there are too many things we cannot control. We must trust God to open and close doors for us.Psalm 112:1-4Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever. Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.Our faithfulness to God bears fruit for generations to come. God’s grace is far more reliable than any earthly treasure or title. He promises to leave a spiritual legacy of success to those we love most. There is no better inheritance.

Question 5

Does God promise us success in this life?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 16:7The Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”God’s standards differ greatly from our own. Success is measured by faithfulness and fruitfulness, not by results and quantities. It is a spiritual, not a numerical assessment. Too often we measure success in terms of appearances and externals, but the Lord looks at our hearts. God measures success not by prestige, possessions, or power, but by weighing our motives, our devotion, and our commitment to him.1 Kings 3:10-14The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”1 Kings 4:25During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and garden.1 Kings 8:15-21“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father, ‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. But I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’” Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and I now sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”How God dealt with Solomon is not a blueprint for our gaining wealth and health by asking God for wisdom. Even wisdom, as Solomon’s life demonstrates, is not ultimately a guard against sin, especially if it is ignored. But real commitment to God may open doors to success that we could never predict.2 Corinthians 3:4-5We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.We know that real success is measured by the things that last beyond this life. This kind of success can only come from God.1 John 2:15-17Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.Success in this world can mean failure in God’s eyes. While we live in this world, we are not controlled by this world’s system of values. God promises that if we do his will, we will have true success.