By JQuisumbing
Is success a sign of God’s favor?
From a worldly perspective, success is usually gauged as divine favor. ‘God sure do love a winner’, as the old saying goes. Yes, He does, however, He loves the losers as well. More importantly, God puts priority in aiding the underdogs usually to humble those who think so highly of themselves because of their successes.
Does this mean that believers should not pursue success? On the contrary…
Abraham’s faithful servant so wanted to succeed in completing the given task by his master that he prayed for success.
Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.” (Genesis 24:12)
By the way, he got it.
Joshua was commanded by God to buck-up for success.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7)
God so wants you to succeed that He revealed in His word how to gain it and true prosperity as well.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 18)
Success, like money, is, in itself, neither good nor evil. Whether success is good or evil depends on what you do with it. We, of the faith, would do well to learn from the lives of the godlies of the Bible.
Gauging success as being God’s favor is like walking along a cliff edge blindfolded. You are guaranteed to fall. So, heed the words below.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Johann Quisumbing 