GOOD SUCCESS?

Sunday, December 8, 2019

GOOD SUCCESS?

Josh 1:8-9

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.

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.

Most of us live more or less happily with the hope that things will get better by-and-by. This is the hope that keeps us more or less happy. If you think hard about this it is a confession that we also live our lives more or less un-happily! We want what Joshua was promised. We want good success however we have a difficult time in defining it for ourselves. When we often complain we are told by many that we have already attained it but we do not feel it for ourselves. There is always this constant nagging that one day things will be better. Well, I’d like to suggest a plan for achieving good success.

Find a philosophy worth following! “This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth!” Study the Bible continually! Jesus said in John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Most philosophies made by the best minds leave us empty but the Bible is worth being the foundation upon which to build a life.

Follow the philosophy diligently! Meditate in it day and night! Read it, memorize portions of it and refer to it often throughout the day. Measure every act and thought by its teachings. Do not stray from its principles even when you seem confused. Trust the truths found in them. Meditate is the word hagah (daw-gaw'); to murmur; by implication, to ponder. The idea is to mumble to yourself, to always be engaged in conversation with yourself regarding these principles. Examine the color, taste and texture of every teaching. Apply the teachings until they become habit. Practice the habits until they become part of your nature. Then you will have good success.

Trust the Philosopher! Any good philosophy is only as good as the philosopher who penned it. Jehovah God says in verse 9 “Have not I commanded thee?” Joshua had just been commanded to do something he feared to do. He was doubtful of his abilities and of the outcome. He wanted to remain in the safety of the NOW because he was more or less happy which also meant that he was more or less un-happy. God challenged him to move forward, to venture into the future and to try the uncertain. It was as if God was challenging him to jump off a cliff. It went against conventional wisdom and forced him to engage his philosophy by trusting the Philosopher.

Enjoy His companionship! God read Joshua’s mind and told him to be strong because Joshua felt weak. He told him to be of good courage because he did not feel courageous. He told him not to be dismayed because Joshua felt the burden of the task and feared failure. Then God said something that brought the sunbeams through the dark gloom for Joshua. God said “I will be with you wherever you go!”

Good success! That’s what God promised. It is the Hebrew word sakal (saw-kal'); which means to be circumspect and hence, intelligent. It means you will become prudent and skillful. It means you will develop understanding and wisdom. You will be able to behave yourself wisely. I want that!

Dear Lord, thanks for the encouragement of Scripture and the promise of your abiding presence. Help me to not be afraid but to follow on to good success. AMEN