Success & Prosperity

The world's view of success and prosperity is vastly different from God's. We need to shape our perspective on success and prosperity so that we seek God's desired outcome and know how to achieve it in a biblical way.

Media Options

Introduction

In your mind, name someone who is successful or prosperous.  Why did you think of them? What made them successful?  Are you successful or prosperous?  By what standard are you measuring your level of success and prosperity?

On some level and in some way we all want to be successful and prosperous. But I need to learn to measure those things by God's standards and not the world's.

A. There is a success and prosperity of this world. 

Psalm 73:3,12  This success is typically measured in terms of what we possess, name recognition, education, type of job, and how much we earn.  A church's level of success is typically measured in the number of people who attend, the facilities they have, the programs they run, and their name recognition.

B. God wants our "soul" to prosper, placing the measure of success into an entirely different sphere. 

3 John 2   Compare; Matthew 16:26; Luke 12:15-21

C. If prosperity and success of the soul is what God wants, how do I achieve it?

1. Seek God with your life and walk closely with Him.  Genesis 39:1,2, 21-23;  2 Chronicles 26:5;  31:21;  2 Kings 18:6

2. Fill your mind with God's Word.  Joshua 1:7,8;  Psalm 1:1-3

3. Determine to obey God's Word.  Joshua 1:7,8; Deuteronomy 29:9;  1 Kings 2:3

4. Do not neglect to humbly confess your sin.  Proverbs 28:13