Obedience = Success

One thing is for certain, this life is the life God has called me to and I want to do nothing more than be obedient to the Lord.

What is success?….In the eyes of the world, success is a matter of perspective. Success could be a good job or lots of money or a level of intelligence or having a wife kids and a house. Success in the eyes of the world could be anything and has no actual clear standard.

What is success in the eyes of the Lord? What is success based on scripture?

Success is obedience to the Lord. Plain and simple.

Starting from Adam and Eve from the very start, their success in life hung on the decision to obey the Lord through eating or not eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 3) Abraham was called righteous through obedience to the Lord when he was willing to offer Isaac his only son on the altar. (Gen 22) Moses was successful in his obedience to the Lord to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery to the promised land. (Even though Moses didn’t actually enter). (Exodus) Gideon was successful when he obeyed the Lord and sent almost 32,000 of his men home, leaving him with 300 men to fight an army. (Judges 7) David was successful in obedience to the Lord as he always sought what the Lord wanted before taking what others thought would benefit him ie: Sparing Saul’s life and countless battles. (1 Sam 26:1-12; 2 Sam 2:1-2) Ezra in obeying God to teach the law (Ezra 7), Nehemiah in rebuilding the wall (Nehemiah), Jeremiah was successful in obeying the Lord even though he was afraid to do so. (Jeremiah 1:4-8). Paul in preaching the gospel as he was called to do even after a life of persecuting Christians. (1 Corinthians 15:9-11)

Success is not determined by what the world tells you. It is solely dependent on your obedience the Lord!

Sometimes I feel like I am succeeding and sometimes I feel like I am failing but often times that is due to a tendency to look at others and compare myself to them. It is a sad thing to forget your identity in Christ and where your value comes from. Lately I have found myself to be extra stressed out and anxious but it is primarily because I have been placing my value in the affirmations of others and what they do or don’t do. This letter is in part for me to process this and is a reminder for me to focus on the Lord and what He says about me, about my success and who He says that I am.

Possibly you feel similar at times and that you are failing in various ways or that you are lacking in value. I want you to read this and know that your value does not depend on what the world says or thinks. You are important and valued so much higher than you think. Remember that you are a child of God and He loves you so much. Your success is not hinged on the worldly standards. Not your job, family, friends, intelligence, looks or anything else.

Are you listening to the Lord and obeying the call that He has on your life?

Live by the Lord’s standards. Seek the Lord’s heart. Love the Lord and love others.

Let all that you do be done in love – 1 Corinthians 16:14

Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. I felt like this needed to be added onto this letter.

Love is the answer, humility is the key, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

Your brother,
Jacob President

1 Sam 15:22 as well gives an example of Saul who did not obey.

Saul was the first king of Israel and was rejected as king due to disobedience. He wanted to appeal to the people rather than obeying God and thus he did not succeed. 

Contrast David who wanted only God’s approval and is still considered to be the greatest king that has ever ruled.