Success Literature

 

Barnes and Noble has whole sections filled with books that propose schemes to create success and prosperity. You can buy advice on raising children, building a better marriage, investing … well, just about any subject. There is even a self-help, success industry that caters to pastors. Yesterday, I sat through an hour-long webinar in which a pastor laid out his program for growing a larger church! He promised that if I bought his books and manuals, I could do what he has done in his city. I  was not convinced that the Holy Spirit wants me to become a clone of that man. It was an hour I could have spent more productively in prayer!  Some of this kind of material is better than others, isn’t it? Years ago, I read Stephen Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I still pull it off the shelf and review the wisdom found in his work.

There is one Book that shows us how to enjoy a life of peace, how to live with significance, and how to find our purpose. ".. The holy Scriptures …  have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:15-17, NLT)  That’s not the kind of hyperbole one often finds on the back of the latest self-help book!  In the Word we find the way to our Father, correction of our faults, and the way to whole and holy lives.

When he knew that his time of leadership was coming to a close, Moses called the leaders of Israel together and shared what the Lord told him to say.  As you read this lengthy passage, prayerfully ask the Lord for grace to live the principles He teaches so that you can enjoy the promises.  You will be tempted to argue with the text asking, “But, what about…?”  Please do not take that course. Instead, receive this Word with faith and let the Spirit make it a living text for you.  Let’s go.

“If you fully obey the Lord your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields. You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks. You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread. You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going. “The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!

“The Lord will bless everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. “If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he solemnly promised to do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you. “The Lord will give you an abundance of good things in the land he swore to give your ancestors—many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens to bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God and carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always have the upper hand. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today to follow after other gods and worship them." (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, NLT)

Wow! Isn’t that an amazingly rich passage?  We are His people.  When we live in humble submission to Him, accepting His gracious offer of life, He is honored.  "All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe. " (Deuteronomy 28:10, The Message)   

Heavenly Father, help me to live in obedience,

Filled with faith,

So that Your blessings can flow through me

To this world.

May my thoughts, words, and actions

Cause others to turn to You and

Give You praise.

In Jesus’ holy Name, I pray.

Amen