Success

Psalm 1:3, He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Who doesn’t desire this?  For their marriage, for their children, for friends – even for others in general?

Who doesn’t want to live in abundance (rivers of water) or finding success at the end of the day, the week or the year (fruit) or wants a bounty from investments (making leaves which in turn produce a river of blessings) or success in endeavor after endeavor (prosperity)?

So how does one get to such a state?  There is a way and there is a wrong.  First the wrong:  Psalm 1:1, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful

There are three types to reject and three actions to avoid.

First, do not follow after the ungodly.  That is, people who do not fear and follow God are to be rejected.  So what people do you read, listen to, or follow?  What people are you letting your children follow?

Second, flee, avoid, and reject sinners – those who openly sin in lying, gossiping, mocking, demeaning, coveting, hating, berating parents, rejecting the Sunday pause, abusing God’s name, lusting, or…

Third, turn away from scorners.  To scorn is to consider someone worthless or less than or little.  A scorner is prideful – promoting themselves as wise and fit to render judgment on others.  They reject others as inferior because of their color or IQ or size or poverty or physical abilities or lack of.

And three actions to avoid:  God says to not walk along with them, stop and enter into dialogue with them, or sit before them taking in their attitudes.  Those who do not reject the thinking and actions in verse 1 will not get the successes of verse 3.

Rather, those who embrace and passionately pursue verse 2 will find verse 3 coming about.

So 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

For success, it is imperative that one delights, loves, embraces, pursues, hungers, and consumes God’s Word.  That is far more than a few minutes a day of action and/or attitude.  It is a life given to sitting at His feet to learn, agree, internalize, embrace and live out truth – a FAITH life!  One seeking God’s blessing will allow God’s Word to have a say in all of life – he ponders, thinks, meditates on God’s ways and wisdom day after day and hour by hour.  The person of verse 2 is full of God.

And the blessings of 1:3 will most often have little to do with material things like houses, money, vacations, or investments.  No, the blessings are going to be manifested in relationships with spouse, children, extended family, church, neighbors, work associates, society and mostly with God.

The blessed one of 1:3 will flourish by God’s empowerment (living water) and show forth Godly and attractive fruit in a life rich with joy, peace, hope, and love – the nutrients from “healthy leaves” (photosynthesis).  They will be prosperous meaning they will see themselves as valuable and they will have a sound mental state knowing God is using them in great and glorious ways.

Three simple verses rich with direction and hope!