👑 A Portrait of Genuine Kingdom Triumph
Success through the lens of scriptures
Psalm 112:1-10 (NIV):
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever… They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.
🤔 What is Success, Really?
The general definition of success is the achievement of goals or desires in any given area.
But Kingdom Success is richer and deeper. It has to do with:
- The quality of your relationship with God.
- The quality of life and living derived from that relationship.
- The discovery and completion of your assignment on earth.
- The extent of impact you make to your world.
✅ Does the Bible Actually Support Success?
Let’s look at the evidence: Jeremiah 29:11, Genesis 1:28, 12:1-3, 39:21-23, Leviticus 26:3-5, Deuteronomy 11:11-14, 28:13, 30:15-16, Joshua 1:5-8, Psalm 92:12-14, 126:5-6, Matthew 25:20-21, John 4:34, Galatians 6:9, 1 Peter 5:10.
Conclusions from these scriptures:
- God is glorified when believers succeed. It validates His love, His fatherhood, and the integrity of His word in their life.
- Success is a strong consolation to believers as they walk with God. It builds their faith, brings dignity and honour to their lives, makes their witness effective (John 4:29) and establishes joy and peace in your heart.
- The success and victory of believers is a potent way of drawing many to Jesus.
😕 Why Does “Success” Create Mixed Feelings Among Believers?
This tension is real and stems from several issues:
- 📈 Material Overemphasis: The subject has been taught only from the standpoint of material acquisitions, ignoring nobler parameters like spiritual health, fulfillment, and peace.
- 🎯 Mission Drift: It has been overemphasized to the point of overriding the core mission of the church: soul winning and the revelation of Jesus.
- 📏 Erroneous Yardstick: It has been wrongly used as a major measure of faith in God (Mark 10:17-22).
- 🤥 Fruits of Compromise: The success of some is discovered to be from ungodly practices, putting pressure on others to compromise.
- 💔 Fleshly Gratification: Many have used success to gratify the flesh and create unhealthy social divisions in the church.
- 💚 Envy and Jealousy: True success requires knowledge, discipline, and diligence. Those unwilling to pay the price may gravitate towards envy (Romans 10:12).
- 🔍 A Painful Mirror: A believer’s success validates God’s word, kills the excuses of those who fail, and compels them to face their own responsibility.
📐 The Biblical Parameters of True Success
This is the core of the matter. True Kingdom success isn’t one-dimensional. It’s measured by a beautiful mosaic of factors:
| Icon | Parameter | Description & Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| 🧠 | a. Character | The outworking of the nature of Christ in a person (Galatians 5:22). It’s the product of a healthy, vibrant relationship with God. |
| 💡 | b. A Superior Belief System | Acknowledging Christ’s lordship, believing in human dignity, responsibility, the finished work of Christ, and the power of God’s laws and love. |
| 🎯 | c. Discovery of Purpose | Excelling in your God-ordained assignment (Jeremiah 1:5, Hebrews 10:7). As the theologian Dr. Myles Munroe famously said, verbatim: > “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose.” |
| 🔑 | d. Understanding Mysteries | The ability to understand and apply Kingdom principles for a victorious life (Matthew 13:11, Job 38:33). |
| 🌍 | e. Kingdom Impact & Exploits | The real proof of stamina is winning souls and transforming lives (1 Timothy 2:4). This is the greatest demonstration of the gospel’s power. |
| ✨ | f. Influence | The capacity to command attention and loyalty, compelling others to buy into godly convictions. |
| ❤️ | g. Healthy Relationships | The health of your relationships with family and those close to you. |
| ✝️ | h. Willingness to Sacrifice | Your readiness to lose everything, including your life, for the sake of Jesus and His Kingdom values. |
| 🌳 | i. Legacy | Your ability to look beyond yourself and create something that blesses future generations. This echoes the words of pastor and author Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life, verbatim: > “Living a purpose-driven life is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing.” |
| 😌 | j. Unshakable Peace | The ability to have joy, peace, and rest with or without material blessings. |
📚 Relevant Materials & Citations
To dive deeper into this topic, consider these resources:
- Book: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This book is a foundational text on finding your purpose from a biblical perspective.
- Book: Understanding Your Potential by Dr. Myles Munroe. This book expands on the themes of discovering and maximizing your God-given purpose.
- Article: “What is Biblical Success?” by GotQuestions.org. This article provides a concise, scriptural answer. A relevant quote, verbatim, is:
> “Biblical success is finding out what God wants you to do and doing it.”
🏁 Conclusion
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV) brings it all home:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
True Kingdom success is not about the abundance of your possessions, but the depth of your obedience and the authenticity of your walk with God. It’s a holistic success that blesses you, validates God’s word, impacts your world, and leaves a legacy for eternity.
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