Take the time to do a book search at the Amazon site. Type in “successful living”, and look at the myriad titles that come up. Some of them have reference to financial success, some simply happiness, some claim a Biblical basis for their ideas.
How is success defined? The writer of Ecclesiastes sought to answer that very question. Things such as wisdom, pleasure, money, work ethic, perspective, friendship, popularity, honor, laughter and youthfulness were considered and rejected. He came to the realization that life lived without God in the picture is vain. Without God, there can be no success.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
With that overriding principle in place, there is a passage in the book of Psalms that supplies some important keys to living life successfully. The remainder of this article is based on an outline that appears in Paul Sain’s Ready Reference for Growing Christians. The outline is titled, A Few Biblical Facts about Success (True), page 94.
The outline covers Psalm 119:59-60. Five points are made, with other references to supplement the text of the Psalm.
Take Inventory — Psalm 119:59, “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.”
Self-examination is an important part of Christian living. David “thought about” his ways. The Prodigal son in Luke 15:17 “came to himself.” As we examine ourselves, however, we must acknowledge that the awareness of our “ways” is not enough. Jeremiah 10:23 reveals, “…the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
Some examine themselves, and see themselves as better than others. This is immaterial. Paul wrote, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Instead, we must compare our “ways” to God’s word.
Go to the Right Source — Psalm 119:59, “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.”
As mentioned above, the way of man is not to be trusted. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). There is a standard to which our actions are to be compared. That standard is the “testimonies” or words of God.
It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that is “the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Our Lord warned, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Do Not Delay — Psalm 119:60, “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”
Procrastination is always dangerous when it comes to spiritual matters. Today is the day that we need to consider how our actions impact our standing with God! David knew that. “I made haste, and did not delay…” Paul wrote, “For He [God] says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you’ [Isa. 49:8]. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). If we wait to do God’s will, we may die unexpectedly, or the Lord may come. The unprepared will be left outside when the door is shut (cf. Matthew 25:1-13).
Do the Will of God — Psalm 119:60, “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”
Consider who God is. The Creator of the universe. The Maker of Man. He is the Potter, we are the clay. It is foolish for any man to rebel against such an Authority as that. Just as David, we must keep His commandments.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The Hebrew writer affirms, “And having been perfected, He [Christ] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
In our time, it is the will of the Father, that we obey His son. The new covenant, ratified by the blood of Jesus, makes Him our Lord. Jesus is our Master.
Rewarded: When We Follow Christ. We are promised a great reward when we align our steps with God’s will. It is assured both because of God’s ability, as well as His faithfulness. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4).
A mansion awaits if we, like David, align our steps (without delay) with the will of our God and His Son.
