By Pastor Anthony Scott
By the standards of the world, success is measured by the accumulation of things. The world will in fact, render its verdict on our life based primarily on the material possessions we have at the time we depart from this life. Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man to ever live once reflected on his own life and drew the following conclusion, “What advantage does a man have in all his work which he does under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:3)” Further, Jesus gives perspective to our riches in Luke 12:15 where we find these words, “Beware, and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
In our honest quest to live life as God intends both spiritually and materially, the dilemma is to discover what God means by success and prosperity. What essentially is the standard of success by which God will measure us? The answer to our search is found in Psalm 1.
Here we immediately find before going beyond the first word that a successful Christian is a Blessed Christian. This idea of blessed conveys the thought of having something you did not work for. To be blessed amounts to having something you simply do not deserve.
After the word blessed the Psalmist sets before us the five keys to success. They center on where we walk, stand, sit, and derive our joy. We are blessed if walk not in the counsel of the ungodly. The word counsel has to do with the advice or opinions we receive. Your success or failure has a great deal to do with who you listen to. We are blessed if we do not stand in the way of sinners. The company you and I keep matters, they will either hinder or help your spiritual progress. Next, success is tied to where we sit. The scornful are those who don’t share your biblical worldview. You should not take up residence with those who don’t believe like you because they will cast a cloud of doubt over your faith.
Ultimately, the successful Christian must find his or her joy in the law of the Lord or the Word of God. “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).” Meditate on His word day and night and you will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers (Psalm 1:3).” According to the Psalmist, these are the keys to success and prosperity. Implement them today and trust God to do the rest.
For His Glory!
