Leadership: What Are God's Promises for Your Success?预览

Epilogue: Finding God’s plan for your success

Here’s where we left off at the end of the last reading… the Old Testament records many of God’s promises of prosperity and success, but directed to the nation of Israel, not us.

Furthermore, Jesus did not reference or extend these promises to us, but instead overturned the thinking of worldly success with a completely new concept of success related to the Kingdom of God.

These are some pretty dramatic findings, and they seem so very opposite to what you might have thought the Bible was saying to you today.

So what does this now mean for you in your leadership, your business and your workplace? Is God no longer giving business or workplace success to anyone? Should you even try to be successful? What kind of success should you pursue?

The Bible is full of reassurance and has a lot to say about this. Jesus sets the stage with words like these:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

And immediately follows with this:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34

James adds to the message, saying:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. – James 4:13-14a

And Paul adds to the mix with this:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2a

Once you set yourself apart from the pattern of the world and its definition of success, then God will reveal to you what His will is – what His plan of success for your life may be.

You have been given a unique set of gifts, whether that is leadership, administration, technical, caring or other. You are then called to use these at your work or wherever you may find yourself:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10

By doing this to the best of our ability, you will find success and build “treasure in heaven”, just as the Bible says:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. – Colossians 3:23-24

And, as you apply yourself in this way, who knows what other worldly prosperity and success God may grant? Of course, as you first seek His Kingdom and His will, then the actual measure of prosperity, success or wealth given is rather secondary, isn’t it?

Want to find out more about God’s plan for your success? Then pick a next reading plan from either of these two series to learn more:

Biblical Leadership series

Christian at Work series

Reflection / Application

1. How has God gifted you? Are you able to apply those gifts to your leadership, business or workplace?
2. Did this reading plan reset your idea of success? Does that impact your career or workplace goals?
3. It’s been said that most people only gain the right perspective on work and success on their deathbed, but as Christians we can gain this perspective when we die to ourselves and are reborn in the Spirit. Is that the case for you too?