THE SOURCE OF YOUR SUCCESS

By: Bayless Conley

There is no question we live in one of the most prosperous of ages. And many Christians today live in tremendous prosperity.

It is pretty easy to look at all we have accomplished, and the wealth we have accumulated, and feel pretty good about ourselves.

Today, I want you to read Psalm 44:1-3. It contains a powerful truth and reminder,

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.

Any good thing that you and I possess is the result of God’s hand and nothing less. It is not because we are something special or because we are so intelligent.

When everything is said and done, we are not going to be able to point to our own arm or our own intelligence or our own ability. We will only be able to stand back and say, “Look what the Lord has done.”

If you are prosperous today, I want you to know that it is the result of God’s hand and God’s arm working on your behalf.

As you look to the future, if you are going to experience the fullness of what He has for you, it will indeed be the result of the power of His Spirit working in your life. Not your ingenuity, not your human striving, not the power of your flesh, but the power of His Spirit.

PROSPERITY FROM WORKS

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

In everything you do, allow the Lord to manifest himself in you so that you shall always be blessed in all your undertakings.

All shall be well with you and happiness will fill your day as you reap the harvest of the good works that he has set before you.

The harvest of these good works shall lead you to prosperity all the days of your life!

Lord, your presence in me as I walk in your ways will surely lead me to prosperity. Please bless my work and multiply them abundantly for your greater glory and praise!

Read: Psalms 128: 1 - 2, 4 - 5

IDLENESS

If any one will not work, let him not eat.

Keep away from anyone who is living in idleness.The road to prosperity is to work your way up without wasting anytime. You only have one shot at time and how you use it matters most.

Do not wait for the time when you will regret that "had you not spent your time living in idleness, you could have prospered a long time ago."

Life is short my friend, act now before its too late!

Father God, my mind and heart is in you. In Jesus Name, I pray that you give me a sound mind and body to persevere in the work that you have given me in order to achieve my goals in life. Give me all the resources needed to work hard not only for my own profit and needs but also for others who will benefit from my work. I work for your greater glory and honor, now and forever. Amen.

Read: 2 Thessalonian 3: 6 - 10, 16 - 18

PROFIT AND WAGES

Each person has his natural limitations and usually seeks for a return in anything he does. In terms of work, he expects wages or profit. In doing good to others, he loves to be praised, honored, and to be appreciated for his efforts. As a leader, he possess great influence over his members that can lead them towards the right path of righteousness or corrupt their minds to sin.

You were once a slave of sin but have been freed in order to strive for righteousness in faith. Sin leads you to shame and in the end you gain nothing. God transformed you from a sinner to a slave then to a servant. Now he is preparing you to be a steward so that in the end, you may be sanctified to gain eternal life.

So, what kind of return will you choose, the wages of sin that leads to nothing or a free gift of God that assures eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord?