The person who experiences good success
The entire Book of Psalms in the Bible opens with an amazing exclamation: “Oh the blessedness of …Ps. 1:1 “That is, the good success of this person is clear to all. He or she is wonderfully blessed of God. In fact, “whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3b
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We all want to succeed in life. We want to succeed in our marriage and home life; in our business and working life; or in our studies as students; in raising children who will turn out well in this complex environment; in our finances; in our social relationships.
Above all, we want to succeed in being genuine Christians, true believers, people who are growing more and more like Christ. I do not know the top three things you want to succeed in this year.
But let’s turn to some lessons on what the Bible teaches about a person who experiences good success in life. What is this blessed and successful person’s secret?
We find his or her secret in the following text:
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
First, the secret of how he or she lives:
• He delights in or loves God’s word (vs 2a)
• He meditates (reads, studies and meditates) on God’s word daily (vs 2b). Joshua was to have a similar love for God’s word.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 NLT.
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• He practises God’s word (vs1); he rejects the advice of the ungodly; he does not follow the example of wicked people and he doesn’t team up with those who have no use for God and rebel against His standards.
Secondly, the outcome of his or her godly lifestyle:
• He or she bears good fruit each season (vs 3a). They exhibit the appropriate fruit of the Holy Spirit at just the time it is needed - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
They are also empowered by God to be productive in their work. They bear fruit of productive work. They are also wise in winning souls.
Basically, bearing fruit here refers to showing forth the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who submit to God’s word and live by its standards will declare with Apostle Paul it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT
• “…they prosper in all they do” (vs 3b). It is amazing that all that their hands touch to do ends well.
• They are guided and protected by the LORD (vs 6a GNB).
The Psalmist then points out a sharp contrast between the life of the godly and the ungodly. This is really an amazing description of the life of a person who submits fully to God’s word and seeks to live by the standards of God’s word.
It literally shows that we can choose blessedness. And we know that the choices we make have consequences. We can also choose to live by the secrets of the person who succeeds in everything they do.
We will thereby experience God’s guidance and wonderful blessings. We too can experience good success this year.
Oh how I deeply desire that it will be said of you and me, “…they prosper in all they do.”
(The author is a former General Director / CEO of Scripture Union Ghana, a Leadership Development and cross-cultural Ministries Consultant and on International Conference Speaker. Email: ghanajesuscrusade@gmail.com / sughanaho@gmail.com)