God’s Formula for Success

Everyone wants to be successful especially when it involves our way of life. For instance, we want a successful family, or be successful in our relationships, particularly on our marriage relationship, or financially in our chosen career, vocation or profession, and etc.

God has given the formula for success, as follows:

^“8 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 according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 KJV).

Before giving the above formula for success in life, God said to Joshua who succeeded Moses to carry on the difficult task of conquering the promised land inhabited by giants – Canaan land.

^“5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swear unto their fathers to give them.” (vss. 5 & 6)

Significantly, in vs. 7 God repeated His encouraging words in vs. 6 by reminding Joshua once more:

^“7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” (vs. 7)

Notably, God, this time, inserted the word “very”, and He concluded by guaranteeing His abiding presence in this manner:

^“9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (vs. 9)

When God said, “this book of the law”, he was referring to the “Law of Moses” called the Pentateuch, or the first five books in the Old Testament, namely: Genesis, Exodus, Liviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. However, the law (of God) also includes the canonized books written by the prophets like Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets and other writings like the Psalms, in the Old Testament.

When, theologians say canonized, they refer to the books included in Old and New Testaments (OT 39 + NT 27 = 66 in all). All other writings have been excluded by the canonizing Fathers (priests). In the first to the third century A.D. (After death of Jesus Christ) there were no protestant ministers yet. Martin Luther, the “Father” of protestantinism was not yet born.

What were the standards used by the canonizing Fathers that will qualify a certain writing to be included in the canonized Bible (both Old and New Testaments)? The words must be spoken by God himself, or the writing must be done by God himself or written by the finger of God, like the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:34-28); it must have been written or authored by a man of God like Moses, Joshua, David, etc; or spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ (like the Gospels as written or recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John); or authored by an apostle of Christ (there are 13 apostles including the Apostle Paul who authored 13 books of the Bible [or Epistles]), or authored by someone very close to the Apostles, like Matthew, Mark or Dr. Luke. In short, any book written or not authored or word not spoken by any of those enumerated above do not qualify to be canonized. Examine carefully, according to the above standards, whether the books included in your Bible are canonized or not.

Going back to the formula for success in life given by God to Joshua, when He said, “this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth”, meaning to say, you must know the law of God. Knowing is hearing or reading it. Thus, the Bible tells us “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). It did not say “reading” only because not all people can read, but they can have faith by hearing the Word of God.

So, when confronted with any problem of life, we should ask ourselves: “What say the Word of God”? Pray to God that He will bring to your remembrance what you have heard or read. Follow the Word, and you will not be mistaken.

God tells us, “but thou shalt meditate therein (the Word) day and night.” To meditate is to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes, or to think deeply and carefully about (something). “Day and night” is figurative, not literal, otherwise we can do nothing else. In other words, always contemplate, think, consider, ponder, muse, reflect, deliberate about what the Word of God says or means, with prayer.

In addition, and this is extremely important, it is not enough that we know the Word, we must “observe to do according to what is written therein …” There must be action or implementation, not merely head knowledge.

There will be numerous troubles in life. We cannot escape them, for it is written, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and FULL of trouble” (Job 14:1). A hundred years is but a few days compared to eternity. For example, Jesus Christ was born of a woman, so he suffered and encountered numerous troubles in his human life and existence. The most tragic and most serious was his crucifixion to redeem sinful man (Rom. 3:23). Since everyone of us are born of a woman, we shall have plenty of troubles, but no longer be crucified, because Jesus Christ took our place.

What is the promise of God to all believers (also called righteous or true Christians)? King David, “a man after God’s own heart” in Psalm 34 declared:

^“14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

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¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

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¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (vss. 14, 15, 17 & 19)

To be successful in whatever undertaking we do, let us remember Joshua 1:8, “OBSERVE TO DO” heartily and with all patience and perseverance what God said in His Word (the Canonized Bible).