Today we continue our series entitled, “Pursuing Grace-Based Success!”
Here are our foundational scriptures:
(Ephesians 2:8-10 ERV)
8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.
9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.
10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.
(1 Corinthians 1:30,31 NLT)
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
(2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV)
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
For the last few days we have also been looking at this verse:
(3 John 2, AMP)
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”
The wealthiest man to ever live was Adam. After all, he was the only one here, so he owned everything. But after the fall of man, the wealthiest man to ever live was Solomon. Not only did Solomon have wealth, but he also had divine wisdom. The Bible says God gave him “wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29), “He was wiser than any other man” (1 Kings 4:31), and he “became greater in riches and wisdom than any other king on earth” (2 Chronicles 9:22).
While we have already established that success is not just about money, I want to point out that God is not opposed to His people having money. We have lots of Biblical proof that God MADE many people rich (in the riches of THIS world). For some reasons, which I may discuss in this series, many believers think money is evil. Money is not evil. Money can be used for all sorts of good. It’s the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), not the money itself.
Since Solomon had access to both divine wealth and divine wisdom, let’s see what he said about wealth, health and life. Solomon said, “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past” (?Ecclesiastes? ?5?:?18-20? NLT).
So what does this mean for you today? I want to take a closer look at this passage and it will take me a few days. So let’s start:
1. God wants you to enjoy the ONE LIFE He has given you.
Solomon said, “It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun…”
— While it is true that God wants you to make it to heaven, it is also true that He wants you to enjoy the ride.
— God does not want you to be “saved” but then miserably “saved.”
— Jesus said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10:10 AMPC).
— The Father wants you to have and enjoy life in Him.
— Remember what Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10).
— Part of being successful in life is enjoying the life God has given you. When you walk with God, and He walks with you, you can enter each day with a spring in your step, a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and a countenance that brings enjoyment and excitement to any environment.
2. Life is short, so make the most of your time on earth.
Over the last month or so, I preached two funerals. This reminded me of several things:
— Life is a vapor.
— Tomorrow is promised to no one.
— You can be here today and gone today.
— Your time on this planet is limited.
— You only get one life.
— You don’t know when your life will end.
Solomon said, “It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them…”
— You are not going to be here forever. If the Lord tarries His coming, you may only walk the earth for about 120 years (or less). In the big scheme of things, that is not a lot of time.
— Being successful means that you are determined to make the most of the life you have been given in the time you have been given.
— Don’t waste time. Pursue your purpose with laser-focus and bulldog-tenacity, knowing that God will grace you to make the most of the time you have left.
3. You won’t find true peace and fulfillment until you discover and accept your divine purpose (your lot in life).
Solomon said, “It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” (?Ecclesiastes? ?5?:?18-20? NLT).
What is your “lot” in life? I believe it’s your divine purpose. You are not here for any other reason than for the purpose God birthed you to accomplish. God is a completely purposeful God, and He sent you to this planet to do something specific and impactful. When you FIND IT, start to FOLLOW IT, and attempt to FINISH IT before you die, you get to enjoy your “lot in life” in a way that others don’t. Said another way, while people around you are loosely stumbling their way through life, you find a sense of fulfillment and purpose that is beyond anything this world can offer, because you are being led by the Holy Spirit to do what you were birhted to do. You are enjoying your LOT IN LIFE!
— True success is found in surrendering to God and His will for your life.
— You will never find true peace until you find your true self.
— You will never experience true success pursuing something you were not born to do. When you discover Jesus, you will discover yourself. Your knowledge of God will lead to God’s knowledge of you!
— Once you find who you really are, you will also know who you are not. Finding yourself in Christ helps free you from the bondage of comparison and jealousy.
— When you accept your divine assignment, you will tap into God’s grace for clarity, focus, peace, fulfillment, and true success.
That’s enough for today. We will flow in this same vein tomorrow.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me about grace-based success.
There was a time in my life when I measured success by the world’s standards. I got caught up in the pursuit of “things.” I now know that true success can only be found in the accomplishment of my divine purpose.
Instead of pursuing “things,” I now pursue “my thing,” which is what I was born to do.
As I pursue “my thing,” I am confident that You will give me all the “things” I need to accomplish my divine purpose.
In finding You, I have found my purpose. By finding my purpose, I have found myself. By finding myself, I am now free from comparison and jealousy. I don’t attempt to be anyone other than the person You birthed me to be!
I only have the grace to be me. You have only given me the grace for my race. Therefore, I will run, with patience, the race You have set before me, and I am determined to ENJOY every step of the way!
I enter this day with a spring in my step, a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and Your grace all over me. I go to work this morning, and I am able to whistle while I work because I am BLESSED!
Success is not something I will achieve someday. Success is what You bless me to enjoy every day as I walk with You, doing what I was born to do! I enjoy MY LOT IN LIFE and I boldly declare that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
