| Here’s some
definitions for Success... 1) the favorable or
prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
2) the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or
the like. 3) a successful performance or
achievement: The play was an instant success. and
4) a person or thing that is successful: She was
a great success on the talk show. Now,
here’s the only place in the King James
Version of the Bible which mentions the word
success:
Joshua 1:1-8 Now after the death of
Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass,
that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun,
Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead;
now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou,
and all this people, unto the land which I do
give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said
unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon
even unto the great river, the river Euphrates,
all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great
sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be
your coast. There shall not any man be able to
stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I
was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will
not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of
a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou
divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware
unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou
strong and very courageous, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all the law, which
Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it
to the right hand or to the left, that thou
mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 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.
The words prosper and prosperity are found
numerous times throughout the Bible. And, if you
do a little research, you will find that these
words are very closely related to wisdom,
knowledge and understanding. At any rate ...,
materially speaking ... success is like beauty.
It is in the eye of the beholder. Furthermore,
success and total prosperity means different
things to different people. In the past several
Bible studies we have focused on success in life
being in the journey and not just in a
destination ... AND a love story spanning 6,000
years. As a result, we have taken a look into the
Word, and touched on some of the high points,
regarding Success ... Mentally, Spiritually,
Physically and Financially. It is my most sincere
and earnest desire that this study has been
helpful to you in some way, even though small it
may be. **IF** you and I ever expect to have a
positive impact in our world, it has to start
from within us ... from our head AND our heart.
When our relationship with God is what it needs
to be, our head and our heart will be where they
need to be. AND, our life will be well balanced
mentally, spiritually, physically and financially.
As a result, this "balance" is
contagious, and will over flow into our home ...
our church ... and our community.
This time of year we think of "giving".
Unfortunately, many believe "giving"
only has to do with finances. In addition, many
folks think that those who do the most giving
have lots of money. Granted, there are some
wealthy people who do give of their abundance.
But, in most cases, I am persuaded to believe
there are more widow-types who give their all
than there are who are wealthy, giving of their
abundance. More than likely, the vast majority of
folks are neither widow-types, nor the wealthy
giving of their abundance, but are insensitive,
self centered, money hungry grubbers. May God
work in our hearts and lives, to help us get over
financial greed, and learn the value of ... and
blessing in ... giving of our time, energy,
talents and finances.
Exodus 25:1-2 And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,
that they bring me an offering: of every man that
giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take
my offering.
Exodus 36:3-7 And they received of
Moses all the offering, which the children of
Israel had brought for the work of the service of
the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they
brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
And all the wise men, that wrought all the work
of the sanctuary, came every man from his work
which they made; And they spake unto Moses,
saying, The people bring much more than enough
for the service of the work, which the LORD
commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment,
and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout
the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make
any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.
So the people were restrained from bringing. For
the stuff they had was sufficient for all the
work to make it, and too much.
Proverbs 3:5-10 Trust in the LORD with
all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in
thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from
evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow
to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance,
and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy
presses shall burst out with new wine.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 Three times in a
year shall all thy males appear before the LORD
thy God in the place which he shall choose; in
the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast
of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and
they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Every man shall give as he is able, according to
the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath
given thee.
2 Corinthians 9:6-12 But this I say, He
which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth
in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or
of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward
you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may abound to every good work: (As it
is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath
given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth
for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the
sower both minister bread for your food, and
multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits
of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every
thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through
us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of
this service not only supplieth the want of the
saints, but is abundant also by many
thanksgivings unto God;
Proverbs 11:1-31 A false balance is
abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his
delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame:
but with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of
the upright shall guide them: but the
perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but
righteousness delivereth from death. The
righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way:
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver
them: but transgressors shall be taken in their
own naughtiness. When a wicked man dieth, his
expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust
men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of
trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. An
hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:
but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city
rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is
shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city
is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of
the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth
his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth
his peace. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he
that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the
matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but
in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for
it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. A
gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men
retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his
own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own
flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but
to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure
reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he
that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
They that are of a froward heart are abomination
to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way
are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the
wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of
the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of
gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which
is without discretion. The desire of the
righteous is only good: but the expectation of
the wicked is wrath. There is that scattereth,
and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth
more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The
liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that
watereth shall be watered also himself. He that
withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but
blessing shall be upon the head of him that
selleth it. He that diligently seeketh good
procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief,
it shall come unto him. He that trusteth in his
riches shall fall: but the righteous shall
flourish as a branch. He that troubleth his own
house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall
be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the
righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth
souls is wise. Behold, the righteous shall be
recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked
and the sinner.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 Cast thy bread
upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after
many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to
eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be
upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain,
they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the
tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree falleth, there it
shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not
sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the
spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of
her that is with child: even so thou knowest not
the works of God who maketh all. In the morning
sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not
thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall
prosper, either this or that, or whether they
both shall be alike good. Truly the light is
sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to
behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and
rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the
days of darkness; for they shall be many. All
that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in
thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the
days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine
heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know
thou, that for all these things God will bring
thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from
thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for
childhood and youth are vanity.
Isaiah 58:1-14 Cry aloud, spare not,
lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my
people their transgression, and the house of
Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and
delight to know my ways, as a nation that did
righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of
their God: they ask of me the ordinances of
justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou
seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul,
and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day
of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your
labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate,
and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye
shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your
voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that
I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his
soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt
thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to
the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the
heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the
poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou
seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that
thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then
shall thy light break forth as the morning, and
thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of
the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou
call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry,
and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away
from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting
forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if
thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy
the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in
obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and
satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy
bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the
old waste places: thou shalt raise up the
foundations of many generations; and thou shalt
be called, The repairer of the breach, The
restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away
thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy
pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a
delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and
shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor
finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine
own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the
LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high
places of the earth, and feed thee with the
heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of
the LORD hath spoken it.
The law of the harvest is this: **IF** you
really want a bountiful harvest. Don’t be
stingy in your planting.
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