Demands of Godly Success

Sequel to my previous post "don't jump the gun" I'm going to share with you a series of steps, or guidelines, for accomplishing success in a biblically primarily based and Christian framework. These steps or principles were pioneered by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong on what he called the “Seven Laws of Success”. And these principles are outlined below;

1. Law of  Setting the Right Goal

To accomplish anything of value, successful people set goals. You can never arrive at a destination when you don't know where you are going. Pray and ask God to guide you (Matt 7:7-8). No matter what our ambitions or goals are, we must always pursue them in the context of the right ultimate goal. Jesus made us to understand that all the necessities of life, about which we humans so often worry, are secondary to the most important goal of all and that is the reason He said "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Don’t jump the gun! We must set goals in order to be successful and to be a true success (both in this life and for eternity) we need to set the right goal.

2. Law of Educating (or Preparing) ones self;

Process, knowledge and preparation are great tools for becoming successful. We need to increase our knowledge just to keep up with our goals and the knowledge you acquired must be true knowledge - not false education. True knowledge begins with an awe and reverence towards God, and an acknowledgment that He is the source of wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”. Prepare and equip yourself to achieve your goals, both physically and spiritually.

3. The Law of Maintaining Good Health;

You need energy and vigor for your work. These are essential and the driving force for your work. Our environment and immediate surroundings may be detrimental to our health. We have air, water and food pollution as a result of our environmental activities. It becomes difficult to obtain genuinely organic food and pure drinking water for our consumption and our families too. Our fast food, high fat, and high sugar diet is not necessarily the steady diet God intended for humans.

Regular exercise, in addition to a good diet is very important. Apostle Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8 that “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”. The laws of health involve maintaining a positive and tranquil mind (peace of mind), and avoiding accidents. We produce more effectively and efficiently when we have good physical fitness and health.

We also need to understand our limitations, and do the best we can within them. And no matter what our physical limitations are, know that God will surely provide ways in which we can serve Him, and serve our neighbors, more effectively.

4. The Law of Driving one's self;

Mr. Herbert Armstrong called this an “all-important law.” He wrote said “You will always find that the executive head of any growing, successful organization employs drive. He puts a constant prod on himself. He not only drives himself, he drives those under him, else they might lag, let down and stagnate” (The Seven Laws of Success, 1974, p. 40).

Most times, we may have to put a prod on ourselves inorder to move. The book of Proverbs 6:6–11 says "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man”. I must admit that it is very vital that we observe Proper rest, but God warns against being slothful and lazy. We see the ant moving a small grain of food or grain of sand consistently at a time, and accomplishes much over a long period of time. All we need is energy, discipline and purpose to work effectively.

5. The Law of Applying Resourcefulness;

Mr. Armstrong called this “the emergency law.”  What will you do when the road ahead to your planned career or goal looks blurry or rough?  When life meets you with unexpected obstacles or you suddenly face a financial problem, or health emergency, What are you going to do?

Always make plan for alternatives and options. Ask yourself what resources are available? What agencies or individuals might be of help? Of course, we know that the first step to take in any serious emergency is to ask for God’s help. We read in Matthew 14:29–30 that When Peter was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”. It is common to overlook the obvious when we are in trouble. Ask God to deliver you from your predicament. Ensure to do your own part and search out all the resources available to you. Never just give up. Ask for wise counsel. Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established”. 

6. The Law of Perseverance Towards one's Goals;

The place of constant perseverance can not be be over emphasised. Stick to the course. The Britain Prime Minister, Winston Churchill on October 29, 1941 at Harrow School said "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense". Never yield to the forces and the overwhelming might of the enemy.

The book of Hebrews 11 and 12 are “faith chapters”. It mentions successful men and women of faith. And encourages us to remember their example, looking forward to the final goal. Run the race with endurance, or patience (perseverance). Never never give up! Run the race of life with perseverance.

7. The Law of Seeking God’s Continual Guidance;

The seventh Law is the foundation of the first six laws. You need to seek God’s continual guidance. So one may be carnally practicing the first six laws, but unless they seek God’s continual guidance, their efforts are but vanity - an exercise in futility. How can I have God’s continual guidance? The answer is found in seeking Him. Isaiah 55:6–7 says “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The right goal of any successful man or woman is the Kingdom of God, I reckon.

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