STEPS TO SUCCESS GOD'S WAY (PART ONE)

Proverbs 12:2-3 "Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but He condemns those who devise wicked schemes. No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted."

Success is often defined as the attainment of a desired goal or achievement. In our scriptural passage, the word "established" refers to true success—one that is lasting and secure. According to God’s Word, real success comes only to those who live righteously. Their efforts stand the test of time.

But what about the kind of success gained through dishonesty? We’ve all heard of individuals who cheated to pass a course or manipulated financial records to receive a larger tax refund. Isn’t that success? What about the businessman who ignores his family, mistreats his employees, and yet thrives financially? While these may appear to be successes, they are temporary and come at the cost of character. The Bible warns that deceitful gain only leads to more dishonesty, and those who harm others become hardened and cruel. In the end, evil actions do not bring lasting success; they only perpetuate destruction.

True success aligns with God’s standards. If your achievements compromise your integrity, they do not constitute real success in His eyes. With that in mind, let’s explore some reasons why people fail to attain true success.

Three Reasons People Fail to Succeed

1. Unbelief – Rejecting God’s Truth

Many people struggle with success because they refuse to accept and apply God’s truth. Unbelief has several causes, including:

• Sin – John 16:7-9: "But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me."

• Satan’s Deception – John 8:43-47: "Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him..."

• Not Belonging to Christ – John 10:25-27: "Jesus replied, ‘I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.'"

• A Hardened Heart – Hebrews 3:12: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

  
  

2. Slothfulness – A Lack of Diligence

Laziness is another major roadblock to success. Scripture is clear that diligence leads to prosperity, while laziness results in lack and failure.

• Proverbs 13:4: "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

• Proverbs 20:4: "The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing."

• Proverbs 12:24: "Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave."

God blesses those who put in the effort. If we expect to succeed without hard work, we are deceiving ourselves.

3. Love of the World – Misplaced Priorities

A person whose heart is set on worldly gain rather than godly purpose will ultimately fail.

• Matthew 16:26: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

• 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

When our pursuit of success is driven by greed, status, or personal ambition rather than God's will, it leads to spiritual emptiness. True success is found in fulfilling God's purpose, not in accumulating wealth or power.

What’s Next?

Now that we’ve examined the reasons people fail to achieve true success, what is God’s blueprint for lasting success? In the next part of this series, we will explore five key steps to success God’s way. Stay tuned!

Are you ready to align your life with God's definition of success? Take time to reflect on these truths, and ask God to reveal any areas where you may need to shift your focus.