Are You Successful?

By Anthony Vandagriff

 

Success is something every individual seeks after and ironically, every individual likely has a different idea of what success is.  There are those who think being known worldwide is the ultimate success; living the life of a celebrity and having masses chase them just to be able to see them or just barely touch them.  Others view success through a monetary lens; feeling complete security in their mountain of riches knowing there is nothing materialistic that they cannot purchase.  Another group would be those who achieve the zenith in education; who when speaking perspicuously still profound the laymen society as if they were speaking aphorisms or esoteric concepts.  The list of understandings and definitions of success appear endless amongst humanity today; however, there is an infallible source that sheds light on this idea.

 

The Bible, the bestselling book of all time and the most historically, scientifically, archaeologically, and experientially proven writing ever, speaks only one time of success.  Something that is such a broad subject for us today appears barely mentioned in the Bible.  Did the Bible not see it as important, or is the definition of success so simple that mankind has overlooked it for millennia?  Joshua 1:8 (KJV) says, “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.”  According to God, who inspired the Bible, studying and living in accordance to the Bible leads to having good success.  Listening to the words of the God who created the universe and who knows the end from the beginning sounds like a good thing to do.  Think about it, the unmatched ruler of all creation, who knows what is going to happen in the future, is telling you what to do; that is a pretty good bit of advice to take.  We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves and to even love our enemies.  We should treat all people with kindness and obey what the Bible tells us to do.  Is the pursuit of ultimate social status, wealth, or knowledge really the way to success?  Jesus actually asked what it would profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul.  Jesus told a story of a rich man who died and lost it all because the things we gain in this short life do not go with us.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to accomplish great feats but maybe we should change how we measure and determine success.  Just think about it, in the eyes of God, are you successful?