Third Principle of Success
To be successful we need to first know God and His ways, and the commit ourselves to be the person God created us to be. Who we are is far more important than what we do, because what we do flows from who we are. It isn’t what we do that determines who we are. Who we are determines what we do. The scriptural order is being before doing, character before career, and maturity before ministry. Following that order will bear fruit that remains “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
We can’t just sit around in holy piety. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). We have all been given a certain life endowment that He expects us to use to His glory. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Cor. 4:1,2).
To be successful, we must be good stewards of that which God has entrusted us. This is the third principle of success. From the parable of the talents, we learn that God has given some five talents, others two, and still others one. In the parable, the one given five talents gained five more and the one given two talents gained two more. The one given a single talent dug a hole in the ground and buried it. On the day of accountability, God ordered the worthless slave, who did nothing, to be cast from His presence, and what he had was to be given to those who were faithful.
God knows that we don’t all have the same capabilities or opportunities. Therefore, we will not be required to produce the same fruit. But He does require us to use what we have been given. Our success lies in our faithful use of God given time, talent and treasure. Don’t fret over lost opportunities, or lack of resources. God has given you all you need to be a liberated, righteous, and fruit-bearing child of the King. Invest in that and you will be successful.
Dr. Neil
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