The Handbook For Success
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” - John 5:39 –
The Word of God is not just God’s love letter to mankind. It is also the handbook for successful operation of the human life. It tells us how to relate to family and friends, coworkers and even enemies. Most importantly it teaches us how to relate to God from whom all blessings flow. From the pages of this book we learn of science, physics and astronomy, history and politics, marriage and parenting. Today we will not try to learn the whole Book. Rather we will try to discover how to learn from this greatest of books
In my office I have a myriad of books. There are commentaries on the Bible, histories of Christians through thousands of years, accounts of martyrs, books on prayer, fasting, the home, marriage, finances …. you get the idea. And, since I am always trying to improve my ministry, my preaching and my service, I have amassed a wide variety of books dealing solely with the topic of success.
In addition to reading books, there have been countless hours spent on the internet trying to acquire a clear picture of what success really is. With all of this investment of time, with all of this study, with all the buying of books; I have found that what seemed so elusive was already in arms reach.
Like me, you probably have numerous copies of the Scriptures at your home or office or even in your school locker (it’s OK, I won’t tell). So then why do we put such effort into seeking answers from others that could be found within the cover of just one book?
My hypothesis is that we are not willing to put in the time, or not willing to make the effort required to glean wisdom for ourselves. Often, we seek out those who espouse carnal formulas for success. Sometimes their advice is in agreement with the Word of God. Just as often it is a formula for a hollow, worldly success that even after many years leaves one feeling unfulfilled and lonely.
We all admire and desire the finer thing in life. Whether it be a Stradivarius violin, a Rolex watch, or a Rolls Royce, we all understand that these icons of success came about by exhaustive effort and uncompromising attention to detail. The makers of these items were determined to get it right. If we are going to go forward to success together, we had better take the time and make the effort to get it right.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest.” - Ecclesiastes 9:10 –
I read recently in a book by Dean Graziosi entitled Millionaire Success Habits how he went through a process called “The Seven Levels Deep Exercise”. So, I went through this exercise with my daughter Megan who writes a website of daily devotions for ladies at www.strivingtoserve.com.
After some questions and some real soul-searching, and even some tears she came to the final realization that her real motive in helping others was “to make my life count for something after I’m gone”. She wants to leave something behind that will have lasting value to those who come after her; something that continue to be a blessing to others after she has gone home to her Saviour.
Well I have some verses that will help you in your quest for guidance and direction. But as you’ve probably already surmised; they will confirm that there will be work involved in attaining your goals of biblical success knowledge.
The Apostle Paul wrote to his student Timothy and required Timothy to do some things in preparation for the work he was to embark on. I think this advice is still relevant to us today. So, let’s dig in.
Nobody becomes proficient in a subject overnight. There is a process that almost always repeats itself. When it comes to gaining knowledge of biblical things we also see a pattern emerge, a three-fold method of discovery, understanding, and application.
Read in the Book!
First there will be a need to put in some solid time reading and becoming familiar with the Bible. This is discovery.
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” - 1 Timothy 4:13 –
Here Paul emphasizes the importance of reading to become knowledgeable in the subject matter of the Bible. There are many show on T.V. about searching for antiques that are of no apparent value until the right person comes along that really knows what he is looking at. Hidden within the pages of the Bible are nuggets that will each make a contribution to your life’s success and prosperity. I have always been amazed at how many people go to garage sales week after week. I even heard of one lady who goes to a thrift store to look around and buy something; then returns it the next week as a donation. Then she finds something else of interest and does it all over again every week.
What great treasures await us in the pages of the Bible that we will never want to give back. We should approach the Bible as a treasure trove of knowledge!
“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things old and new.” – Matthew 13:52 -
Study in the book!
Next Timothy is encouraged to put in the effort to go beyond merely being familiar with the Scriptures by really studying what they teach so as to have a clear understanding of how each passage interacts, supports and interprets other passages. I have always chaffed when people tell me as a preacher that, “that is just your interpretation”. No, it is not. I do not have the right to interpret Scripture the way I want them to be. God clearly tells us that “… no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” – 2 Peter 1:20 -.
The best rule is to really study your Bible and then let the Holy Spirit “guide you into all truth”. Just as in the case of an athlete or a musician, etc., the effort you put in now in developing a biblical knowledge base will never leave you. Another admonition of Paul for Timothy is to study, to really get to know the Word.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15 –
We have many great promises from Jesus concerning the work of the Holy Spirit. One that I count on for sermon preparation and preaching is found in the book of John.
“But the Comforter, which is the holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26 –
But how can the Holy Ghost cause us to re-member something that has not yet become a member of us? The Psalmist said “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, ….” – Psalm 119:11 - If we do not make and effort to really learn the Word we cannot expect to be credible in it usage. But if we are diligent in our study of Scripture that also will be evident.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” – Proverbs 22:29 –
Meditate In The Book!
Paul tells Timothy that it is not enough just to be familiar with the Word, or even to really know the Word.
“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” - 1 Timothy 4:15 -
To prosper Timothy must apply the things he has learned in the Bible to his life personally. This is done by meditation.
This is not transcendental meditation where you try by your own efforts to be a better you. That is a totally different religion than Christianity. But, rather, this is the truest meaning of the word as defined in the dictionary. Meditation: The revolving of something in the mind. That means you look at it from all sides, from all angles, to see how that nugget of wisdom from God can be applied to your life to make it better. To make you better.
Meditation is more that taking a cursory look around to see if you might reap some benefit from the reading and studying that you have done. It is a constant application of those things you have learned to life experiences that you may never have encountered before. Meditation is an ongoing process.
Psalm One tells of the godly man, that: “his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The by-product of such diligent meditation is found in the following verse which promised that: “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Now it does not get any stronger in the English language than the word “shall”. There is no ambiguity in that word. It must happen. God has promised.
Thrive In The Book!
A great preacher of yesteryear would always tell his congregation that it takes “three to thrive”. By this he meant be in attendance at all church services every week. Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. If you will do this you will get a well-rounded diet of the messages that God has given your pastor. I think the same applies to your personal investigation into the written Word of God.
It is not enough to say “I’ve read my Bible all the way through”. Do you mean just once? Is that it? You are not even scratching the surface of what God has provided for you in the pages of His book. You should read your entire Bible through each year as a minimum!
It is not enough to be able to quote the Scriptures by chapter and verse. Do you know that you can memorize the entire Bible and yet have no understanding of what you are quoting? That error has caused many to develop false teachings and then false followings. Whose damnation is just? Those who deliberately deceive the masses or those who do it carelessly?
It is not enough to meditate on how to apply the treasure of the Bible to your personal life if you do not “perform the doing of it”. God speaks of the double-minded man. The man who has good intentions to succeed and to prosper in his life, but never follows through in making the changes that will cause him or her to succeed. James tells us: “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
In closing I would refer you to God’s promise to Joshua in Chapter one and verse eight.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
