080: Success Confusion

Faith and Finances

What is success? Searching that on Google brings up 949 million hits making it a pretty popular subject!

The World is very preoccupied with success. But how is success measured?

Have you ever felt the pressure of not "arriving" yet? Or, perhaps you are not in the career that could be paying you the most? "What if I was meant to be in marketing instead of working for UPS?"

Let's be real, that kind of pressure can be debilitating—if we let it.

In This Episode, We Look At:

The Drive to Excel

There is nothing wrong with having a drive to excel. As a matter of fact, we are taught in Scripture that we are to do all things with excellence as to the LORD! That's the key! What is behind your drive to succeed?

Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men

Be careful in your source of motivation:

“Motivational Speakers and Thought Leaders often place the emphasis on SELF”

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Too much success or success in the wrong area

God's Word can keep us grounded and striving for success that really matters for all of eternity.

King Solomon was the most successful man in recorded history. We learn much from him.

Notice what he wrote in Proverbs 27:7

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb;

but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

And in Proverbs 30:8-9

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me food convenient for me: Lest I be FULL, and DENY thee, and say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

GOD HONORING SUCCESS

Now notice what King David, Solomon's father, teaches about TRUE success:

Psalm 4:7

Thou hast put gladness in my heart,

More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

Gladness from the LORD—joy, is worth much more than great riches!

The majority of people in Biblical times made their living by farming their land. If your crops and wine "increased", that meant you had an abundant harvest which equated to riches. You would rejoice over such a bountiful harvest, and God's Word teaches us that the gladness in our hearts that only comes from God is so much better than all those riches.

Going back to Solomon to take this subject home…

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" Ecc 12:13-14

Whatever you set your hand to do, do it heartily, as unto the LORD—that is great success!

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

Value the gladness from God in your heart higher than temporal success and you'll experience real success!

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