HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 323
page A321
• 1 K I NG S 2 :3 | “Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways.”
(See note on page 301.)
Obedience to God’s Word.
• MAT T H E W 2 0 :2 6 | “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader
among you must be your servant.”
Serving and helping others.
• J E R E MI A H 3 7 :1 5 -1 6 | They were furious with Jeremiah and had him flogged and
imprisoned. . . . Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days.
(See note on page 702.)
• PR O VE R B S 1 6 :3 | Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Committing all you do to God. Putting God first in your life.
• J O H N 1 5 :8 , 1 6 | “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings
great glory to my Father. . . . You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and
produce lasting fruit.”
• PH I L I PP I A NS 1 :2 2 | But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ.
Success is being productive—doing things that matter to God. The Bible calls this
“bearing fruit.”
It is easy to be seduced by appearances and overlook the evil beneath. Lot chose the
fertile valley near Sodom, not caring that its cash crop was wickedness. It would later cost
him his family—and other dreadful consequences.
• L U K E 9 :2 5 | “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or
destroyed?”
• L U K E 1 2 :1 6 -2 1 | Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced
fine crops. He said to himself . . . ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. . . . And
I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.
Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die
this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to
store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
The greatest danger in being successful by the world’s standards is being a failure by
God’s. To gain the world and lose your soul is the ultimate failure.
• MA R K 4 :1 9 | “But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life,
the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things.” (See note on page 899.)
True success—that which comes from God—is killed by our attraction to worldly things.
When we lust for worldly things like money, position, power, and fame, we will be tempted to
spend our energies to get these things, and that will take us away from our pursuit of God.
Is it okay to try to be successful in this life?
• PR O VE R B S 1 2 :2 4 | Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
• PR O VE R B S 2 2 :2 9 | Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather
than working for ordinary people.
There are many godly character traits that, if applied to life, often bring material success
(hard work, integrity, commitment, serving others, planning).
• G E NE SI S 3 9 :2 | The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he
served in the home of his Egyptian master.
• E X O DU S 3 3 :1 4 | The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you . . . everything will be fine
for you.”
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• G E NE SI S 1 3 :1 0 -1 3 | Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley. . . . The
whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land
of Egypt. . . . Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley. . . . So Abram settled in the land
of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom. . . . But the people of this area
were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.
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What are the dangers of living for worldly success?