How Does God Define Success?

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

A group of university students from Toronto had gone up to Georgian Bay for a fishing trip.  They hired a boat and a captain to take them out into the bay.  That morning, a storm broke.  The captain, an old tar, sat at the helm with a worried look on his face.  The students laughed at his fear and through their laughter declared, “We are not afraid!”  The old sea dog looked at them and said, “Yes, you are too ignorant to be afraid.” (Getz, Joshua, 27)

Joshua had legitimate reasons to be concerned in Joshua 1. Moses, one of God’s greatest servants, was dead and now it was time for Joshua to lead God’s people into the promised land. The fear of failure was a legitimate fear so God appears and provides Joshua with the keys to prosperity and success.  In Joshua 1:7-8 the words success or prosperous were used three times. This passage is full of God’s definition of success.

Reflection

Pastor Wes encouraged our graduates on Sunday that God has a plan for their success. There are legitimate reasons to be concerned in life today. What are some legitimate reasons to be concerned today? What most encouraged you from the sermon on Sunday?

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for giving us the hope and promise of success when we trust Him and His way. Ask God to begin to reveal His path of success for you.

 Speak On It

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

Once a mother was having a hard time getting her son ready for school. “Nobody likes me at school,” he said, “and the teachers don’t like me and the kids don’t like me, and bus drivers don’t like me and the superintendent is threatening to kick me out.” His mother said, “You’ve got to go. You have a lot to learn. You have a lot to offer. Besides, you are 35 years old and you are the principal!”

God had given Joshua the job of leading the children of Israel into the promised land. Key to the success of Joshua was His faithfulness to communicate the Word of God to others. God tells Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.” Reverence for, learning, and communicating God’s Word was just the beginning of Joshua’s success as a leader.

Reflection

Relationships are the vehicle we all use to communicate the Word.  God wants us to use those relationships to share the promises of His Word. Who has God laid on your heart to share His Word with?

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for giving you the Bible to guide your life. Ask God to show you opportunities He has for you to share His Word with others.

 Meditate On It

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

A friend of chewing gum magnate, Wrigley, was sitting by him on a plane. He asked Wrigley why he continued to advertise so extensively when his business was already so successful. The astute businessman responded, “For the same reason the pilot of this airplane keeps the engines running when we are already in the air.”

Continued success is contingent on continuing to do the things that lead to success. In Joshua 1:8, God tells Joshua to keep doing the things that lead to success. One of the things that leads to spiritual success is meditating on the Word of God. “Meditate” literally means to “mutter.”  It’s the idea of repeatedly talking to yourself or reminding yourself of something.  It’s also used to describe a cow chewing cud in order to properly digest it. 

Reflection

Have you ever tried memorizing Scripture? One of the keys to Scripture memorization is repeating it over and over again. Pick a Bible verse that’s meant a lot to you lately and try to memorize it.

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for a time when His Word has encouraged you or given you the direction you needed. Ask God to help you hide His Word in your heart and to help you recall it when you need it.

Act On It

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to a halt, and the repairmen couldn’t find the problem.  So Ford called Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then threw the switch. The generators whirred to life but Ford got a bill for $10,000 from Steinmetz.  Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car maker inquired why the bill was so high. Steinmetz’s reply: For tinkering with the generators, $10. For knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill. 

It’s one thing to know what to do. It’s another thing to actually do it. God tells Joshua to not only speak God’s Word and meditate on God’s Word but to put into practice the things God has said. Joshua 1 says “Be careful to do all and do not turn to the left or right.” We should give careful attention to acting on what we know to be true. The Bible teaches that we are not to simply be hearers of the Word but doers also. 

Reflection

D.L. Moody said, “The Bible was not written for your information but for your transformation. Can you think of something God has commanded you to do that you are not currently doing?

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for recording the instructions for spiritual success in the Bible. Ask God to give you the power to obey any commands you know you are not obeying.

Surrender

” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  –  Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Bruce Larson in BELIEVE AND BELONG tells how he helped people decide to surrender everything to Christ when he ministered in New York.  He would take them down to the RCA building on Fifth Avenue.  At the entrance to this building was a gigantic statue of the mythological god Atlas, with all his muscles straining and he is holding the world upon his shoulders.  He is the strongest man in the world and he can barely stand up under the weight of the world.  Bruce would say, “Now that is one way to live.”  He would then take this individual across the street.  And on the other side of Fifth Avenue was St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  And behind the altar was a small statue of the boy Jesus.  He was probably eight or nine years old.  And with no effort at all He is holding the world in one hand. He would explain that we have a choice today.  We can try to carry the world’s weight on our own or trust Jesus with our whole world.

God promised to give Joshua success and promised to go with Him if Joshua would surrender and trust Him. Pastor Wes reminded our graduates that God was going to go with them during the next season of their lives. Their primary responsibility was to fully surrender to God and trust His Word and His Way to guide them.

Reflection

The first step for any of us to experience spiritual success is to fully surrender to the Lordship of Jesus in our life. Are there any areas of your life that you have not surrendered to Jesus?

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for the promise of His continual presence in your life. Ask God to show you any areas of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Him.