As the title indicates this is the second article on “success.” Who among us does not like success? Just ask the Mississippi State Baseball Team how being successful in winning the National Championship Trophy feels. Then ask Vanderbilt how not winning the trophy feels. No doubt all of us know the positive feelings success brings and the negatives when not successful.
Our purpose in this article is to continue our study of success on God’s terms. We are using the Old Testament Book of Joshua as the basis for our study. We have seen the emphasis on success in the beginning of Joshua’s leadership. Years later Joshua says some things to his people that are important for our consideration. Success on God’s terms is the best success and here is how to accomplish it:
1 Give God the credit. “And you have seen all the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you” (23:3).
2 Obey Him. “Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from I to the right hand or to the left” (23:6).
3 Live separate from the world. “In order that you may not associate with these nations, these which remain among you…” (23:7a).
4 Don’t serve other Gods. Do not “…mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them” (23:7b).
5 Love the Lord. “But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day…. So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God” (23:8, 11).
Joshua was fast approaching the end of his life. He wanted his people to be successful in how they lived their lives. His words provide a great recipe for success for us today. If we love Him, we ought to obey Him. The Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp into my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Respect the authority of the word and do what it says. When you do that, you cannot help but have success. May we be doers of the word and not just hearers! (Note James 1:23).
— Les Ferguson, Sr.
