Good success entails being obedience to God, empowered by the Spirit of God, motivated by the love for God, and directed toward the advancement of the Kingdom.
According to biblical teachings, the height of your success in God’s Kingdom is determined by the following:
- Your lifestyle of faith (Hebrews 11:6)
- Your lifestyle of integrity (Galatians 5:22)
- How closely you follow God’s plan (Romans 8:14)
- Diligence in using your gifts (Proverbs 18:16)
- Serving others through your giving (Luke 6:38)
- How you trust God’s guidance and counsel (James 1:5, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 11:14)
- Living intentionally (Matthew 6:33)
- Forgiving and seeking forgiveness from others
1. Your Lifestyle of faith
A lifestyle of faith is a way of living that is based on what God has said and promised, rather than on what can be seen, felt, or touched or even what man has said. It involves trusting and obeying God fully.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [a]direct your paths.
The verse instructs us to put all our trust in the Lord and not our own knowledge. The verse tells us not to be reliant on our strength and knowledge, but to trust in the Lord.
Hebrews 11:6 declares “Without faith it is impossible to please God”. Romans 1:17 says, “The righteous will live by faith.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 also says we live by faith and not by sight. And Paul said in Galatians 2:20 that the life he lived in his mortal body was by faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Your Lifestyle of integrity
A lifestyle of integrity means living your life according to your God’s set moral principles, consistently acting honestly and truthfully, and making decisions that align with Kingdom values, even when no one is watching. Essentially, this consists of doing what you say you will do and always striving to be authentic to your beliefs.
Key aspects of a lifestyle of integrity:
- Honesty:Always telling the truth and not engaging in deception.
- Reliability:Keeping your promises and commitments.
- Accountability:Taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes.
- Consistency:Acting in accordance with your values in all situations.
- Ethical decision-making:Considering the moral implications of your choices.
- Transparency:Being open and upfront about your thoughts and actions
- How closely you follow God’s Plan for your life
3. How closely you follow God
We do not have to follow our own plans, God has already designed a plan for us. All we need to do is to follow it.
Jeremiah 29:11 declares: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
1 Corinthians 2:9-11 (NKJV)
“But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God”.
The verse compares human wisdom with God’s wisdom, and how God’s wisdom can only be revealed and believed.
In the verse, Paul quotes from Isaiah 64:4. He explains that human wisdom is based on what can be observed by the senses, but it can’t access God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom must be revealed and believed, or it remains hidden.
The phrase “what no eye has seen, or ear has heard” is often used to describe things that are beyond human experience or imagination, like the mysteries of the universe or the wonders of heaven.
Although you may feel that your life is ordinary, in the hands of our maker the extraordinary is always possible. When you start to feel small, we hope these encouraging bible verses will remind you of God’s plan for your life.
Esther 4:14 says, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
This Bible verse means that God has a plan for each person and has placed them in a specific time and place to accomplish His purposes. The verse is often interpreted as a reminder that God has a plan for people, even when it seems like there are challenges and disappointments.
Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God”.
The Greek word for “led” (ἄγω, agō) implies guidance and direction. The concept of being led by the Spirit is rooted in the Old Testament, where God’s guidance was often depicted as a shepherd leading his flock.
4. How diligent you are in using your gifts / talents
1 Peter 4:10 says “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace …”
In a world of over eight billion people, it’s easy to feel small and inadequate —to feel as if our day-to-day lives aren’t worth much, especially when we’re drowning in a sea of difficulties and challenges of this life. However, we need to understand that God has given to each one of us unique gifts and talents, unique perspectives, certain friend groups, and various workplaces. God uses this rich diversity to carry out his will for our lives. His plans are always bigger, bolder, and better than anything we could ever.
God calls you to use all your gifts, talents and influence to serve others. Fight the lie that tell you that her / his talents are better than yours. Fight the lie that God can’t use you for His Kingdom. Take inventory of your life, and prayerfully consider all the things God has given you to steward: your gifts, talents, influence, power and resources. You are meant to serve others with these. And you know what? That gifting you love … it’s meant to serve others. That gifting you aren’t sure is good enough … it’s meant to serve others.
According to the Bible, God gives people talents to use for His glory, and to bless and build up others.
Here are some ways to use your talents to glorify God:
- Identify your talents: Consider what talents you enjoy using and would like to invest time in. This could be a sport, art form, subject, or social skill.
- Serve others: Use your talents to serve others as a faithful steward of God’s grace.
- Use your talents to proclaim God’s name: If you have creative abilities, you can use your creation to reveal God’s truth and proclaim His name.
- Look for opportunities to minister: Watch for opportunities to use your gifts to bless and encourage others.
Remember that God’s purpose is to pass out grace: God’s purpose in giving people talents is to pass out His grace to people around them. God designed you for a specific purpose, with a unique sphere of influence, experiences, and gifts and talents that will bless others. These gifts and talents are meant to only glorify God as well as bring you closer to him so that you can enjoy great fulfillment.
5. Serving others through your giving (Luke 6:38)
“Serving others through your giving” means using your resources, whether time, skills, money, or even just a kind word, to actively help and support others in need, essentially putting their well-being before your own by providing what they may lack; it embodies the act of generosity and selfless action to make a positive impact on someone else’s life.
Serving others through giving could include
- Intentional action:
It’s not just about passively donating, but actively seeking opportunities to use your gifts to benefit others or ministries.
- Diverse forms of giving:
This can include volunteering your time, sharing your expertise, providing financial assistance, giving your tithes, offerings or alms, offering emotional support, or simply being present for someone in need.
- Focus on being a blessing but not to serve for recognition by man
The primary goal is to meet the needs and improve the lives of those you are serving, not to gain personal recognition.
6) Trusting God’s guidance and counsel (James 1:5, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 11:14)
“Trusting God’s guidance in life” means believing that God has a plan for your life and actively seeking His direction through prayer, studying scripture, and relying on His wisdom to navigate decisions and challenges, even when you don’t fully understand the path ahead; it’s essentially placing your faith in God’s ability to guide you towards the best outcome for your life, even during difficult times.
Key points about trusting God’s guidance:
- Faith in God’s plan: Believing that God has a purpose for your life and that He knows what is best for you, even when things seem uncertain. (Jeremiah 29:11)
- Seeking God’s will: Actively praying and studying scripture to discern God’s direction in your life.
- Surrendering control: Letting go of the need to fully understand everything and trusting that God will guide you even when you don’t have all the answers.
- Obedience to God’s word: Following the principles outlined in the Bible as a way to align your actions with God’s will.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
7) Living intentionally – Seek to please God alone
Ladies and gentlemen, we can never succeed in life here on the earth when we live a life that focusses on pleasing man other than God.
Here are some Bible verses that relate to living intentionally:
- Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need”.
- Ephesians 5:10: “Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it”.
- Colossians 3:23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”.
- Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established”.
- John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work”.
8) Practicing forgiveness & extend grace to others (Mark 11:25-26)
Forging and seeking forgiveness from others is important for closure and healing.
Here are some tips for asking for forgiveness:
- Acknowledge you are wrong: Admit what you did wrong and take responsibility.
- Apologize: Be sincere and specific about what you’re sorry for. Don’t make excuses or blame shift.
- Explain yourself: Explain why you did what you did.
- Make amends: If possible, try to make it right.
- Listen: Ask how the other person feels and show that you understand.
- Give space: Allow the other person time to process your apology.
- Be understanding: Understand that they may need time to respond and believe for the relationship to change.
- Accept consequences: Accept consequences graciously.
Forgiveness is beneficial for both people. It gives the other person a chance to let go of their grudge and start the healing process.