Shooting For Success

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.
Joshua 1:8

There is no doubt but what we live in a success-driven society. However, there doesn't seem to be a consistency as to what is meant by success. For some, success is reaching the Board of Directors in a large company. A teenage girl may view success as making the cheerleader squad. Others may feel success when that perfect mate is found and a huge, beautiful wedding results. There are children who just want to be picked near the top at recess when the class the splitting up for a game of kick ball.

The problem is that for most adults, success means the attainment of great riches with all of the advantages that go with being a very prosperous person. In talking with a person of wealth in another church, I heard an interesting comment. She, being a person of some wealth, made the statement that one can have all the money in the world but without Jesus, the wealth isn't really worth all that much. She had a very sensible perspective when it came to a practical view of wealth vs success.

I have loved Joshua 1:8 for a very long time. That one verse makes a tremendous amount of sense to me on a very personal level because it speaks very clearly to my own heart. I can't imagine how Joshua felt when he was told that he would take the leadership position vacated by the death of Moses. Joshua, being Moses' right arm, saw all the ups and downs of leadership. He had witnessed that it is truly lonely at the top. However, some very precious promises came his way in the first part of chapter 1 in the book of Joshua. In this verse, God gave Joshua a real perspective regarding prosperity and success and how it was to be attained. God's instructions are so very elementary for those of us who have known Jesus for an extended period of time, but let's review those principles:

• The Word of God as Joshua knew it was to be a part of his conversation.
  How often do we speak with others, things from God's Word that will bless or encourage.
• Meditation 24/7 was to be a part of Joshua's life.
  Let's not be difficult here. We certainly have things to do, responsibilities to fulfill. We don't necessarily have time to sit and meditate 24 hours a day nor would we do it if we could. No matter what's going on in our lives, however, there's always time to think on a Scripture that has had meaning, to repeat it to ourselves and to mull over in our minds the wonderful promises of God. There is no one too busy for moments like that throughout one's day.
• Joshua was told to observe the Law.Simply, this means walking a life of obedience to every word of Scripture. We will be held accountable for any disobedience practiced by us.
  

With those three things in place: THEN...You will find yourself a prosperous person.

This does not mean we will automatically fall into great monetary riches. Prosperity is
much more than worldly riches. Some of the most prosperous people I have known
have been some who are “poor as a church mice” when it comes to a check book. Those people I have found to be rich in love, friendships, close family ties, servant- spirited, and filled with tremendous richness in their relationship with the Lord.

Joshua would then find that in keeping God's commands, he would have good success.What is success for any Christian?....it's not found in the who, what or how's of life. It is found in the where....being in the very center of God's will for one's life. That is the only place for a Christian to find true and complete success. Out of God's will, it makes no difference how popular, rich or successful one may be as the world views it....true success for the Christian can only be found where Jesus is.

Joshua was taking on leadership and he would be popular. It would look like he had “arrived.” It wasn't the fame that would make Joshua successful. He had a job to do that God had called him to. His success rested in being where God wanted him to be. Joshua experienced God's true purpose for his life by walking as close to God as closely as possible.

What am I doing here on this earth? Are my goals and desires in sync with God's will for my life? Am I serving where I'm supposed to be serving. Bottom line is, we are all called, no matter our status in life to be servants. I will never get over the fact that Jesus, my Savior came to this earth to minister...to serve others:

Even as the Son of man came not
to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give His life
a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

We read of Jesus serving others....healing, feeding a multitude, washing feet, touching the sick and unlovely, and yes, even dying for all. Jesus, the richest of all beings came and demonstrated by His life what purpose was all about....serving others....even at times the most unlovely of others. That's wealth and prosperity in the truest sense for those of us who want to please our Heavenly Father. God's “Well done” will mean more to us if we have walked in humble service and in His will, more than money or fame could ever mean in our temporary stay on this earth.

Thank You Father, for Your words to Joshua that now trickles down into my life. Help me through Your Holy Spirit to keep my focus on Your will for my life and not on all of the trinkets the world has to offer. I love you and want to please You. In Jesus precious name...Amen