On becoming prosperous and successful

A man with common sense wants to prosper not only physically, materially but more so spiritually. It is God’s will that man will prosper.

But how shall man prosper physically, materially and spiritually?

The wisest of all Kings and all of men, Solomon, said, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Prov. 10:4 KJV). He reiterated this in Prov. 22:29 in this manner: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean (or ordinary) men” (KJV).

Diligence is defined this way:

“Careful and persistent work or effort. It is conscientiousness or industriousness and meticulousness in doing ones work or activity.”

It is said that master artist, the genius Michaelangelo would work on his paintings carefully and meticulously until he has done the best he could. It is a persistent and hard work exerted resulting to what the experts call it an “obra maestra” - a master piece. If we do the same in all our endeavors, we shall succeed.

The equally genius Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the incandescent lamp which is now our modern fluorescent lamps and light bulbs, had to do numerous experimentations before he succeeded to produce the kind of lighting system that the world over is enjoying now. This has been a conscientious and meticulous hard work by Thomas Alva Edison!

But it is not enough that we prosper physically and materially. More importantly, we must also prosper in our soul or spiritually.

The Bible says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper in health (physical) even as thy soul (spiritual) prospereth” (3^rd John vs. 2 KJV). Even if someone has plenty of money and properties if he is sick or sickly and his soul is not “saved,” he is pitiful above all creation of God. Better to be poor in money and property but in good health and his soul be assured of eternal life by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the LORD.

For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Jesus Christ) and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV). Also the Bible says, “therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28 KJV). The law does not save, but faith in God/Jesus Christ in person does!

Grace is unmerited favor. Meaning, man “as is” does not merit the favor from God, but by man’s faith in Jesus Christ, he is justified. Meaning “just-as-if” he has not sinned if he believes in his heart the saving virtue and power of Jesus Christ, and repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as his ONLY savior, no one else. Remember God is a jealous God. He died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3). Meaning, instead of the believer dying because he is a sinner - and for this matter we are all sinners, and the penalty for sin is death, Jesus Christ died in the sinner-believer’s stead or place.

What is faith? It is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The Bible defines spiritual faith in this manner: “it is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Meaning, we must have full trust and confidence in the promises and assurances of Jesus Christ. For example, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Where is God the Father? In heaven. So, one goes to heaven only if he believes in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and accepts Him as his only savior. Jesus also said: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (spiritually). Believeth thou this?” (John 11:25-26 KJV). We will all die physically, as this is already written, but for us believers, our soul and spirit shall live eternally, “For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall have eternal life” (John 3:16 KJV).

We must believe that there is eternal life promised by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave us a sampling of himself who died physically in the cross of calvary but resurrected and now at the right hand of God interceding for all repentant sinners; that although we have not seen heaven or God the Father nor Jesus Christ, we believe in our heart that God the Father and Jesus Christ and heaven exist; that there is a heaven reserved for all saved sinners, and Jesus Christ lives forevermore and like Him we shall live forever with Him. This is the meaning of Faith in God and in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior.

Be prosperous and successful. Be Christlike.