How Do You Spell Success?

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

 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. (Joshua 1:8)

Modern and postmodern man defines success subjectively, materialistically, and temporally, but God defines it universally, spiritually, and eternally. When He promised Joshua success, He did so by His own standards and fulfilled that promise magnificently. From Joshua’s example and from the whole counsel of scripture, we can discover that success is spelled out in biblical principles and values.

 S  is for Submission to the will of God.

Unless we align ourselves with kingdom purposes, we cannot consider our lives successful no matter what we accomplish. Joshua was willing to submit.

U is for Understanding the big picture.

When God fashions a successful man or woman, He gives that person a broad view and a vision that is confined neither to present circumstances, nor to that person’s narrow world of experiences. The scriptures which Joshua was to make a daily part of His life give us God’s big picture.

C is for Commitment to the long haul. 

We must be willing to run the race after we have run out of breath, after our legs begin to grow weak and our strength begins to fail. Discouragement and weariness are no match for a man or woman on mission from God.. The conquest of the promised land was a going to require the rest of Joshua’s life and God’s mission will consume all of our days as well.

 C is for Concern for people & communication.  

As a leader of people, Joshua would have to cultivate his skills as a people person. His shepherding role would be as vital to his success as his skills as a military leader and his capacity to envision the future under God.

E is for Effective expenditure of energy.

Joshua must have had a keen concept of time, He and Caleb had been with the children of Israel since the beginning of the time in the wilderness. He also knew how fragile time and timing can be and the energy required to manage time wisely.

S is for Social responsibility

Joshua had a responsibility to God and to the people. God had called him to look after the well being of every family in the household of Israel. The responsibility was awesome but it is the price of successful leadership.

 S is for Sincerity of focus.

God could trust Joshua because He knew that Joshua would be able to focus on the goal and the tasks necessary to achieve that goal. Sincerity requires single-minded focus and it is also part of the price of success.