How do you define success? Is it by level of income, bank account size, make of car, the size of a home, education, or career? Are these things really true success? Do they provide lasting satisfaction? A closer examination will uncover that they are not. A lasting value is what defines true success in life, one that society cannot take away. This success is achieved by obeying the 7 spiritual laws of success. Therefore, what are the 7 spiritual laws of success?
Seven Principles for True Success
1. Set the right goal— Goals are important. Successful individuals always set goals. However, it is equally important to select the correct goal. Most of our goals are based on our external, material needs. However, we also have internal, spiritual needs that God has placed in us.
Eccl 3:11 reads:
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. NIV
God has “set eternity in the hearts of men.” This phrase denotes that we can by no means be completely satisfied with earthly pleasures and pursuits. Because we are formed in God’s image,
- we have a spiritual thirst
- we have eternal value
- nothing but the infinite God can truly satisfy us.
The Lord God has built in us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule. God has given us a glimpse of the perfection of his creation. However, it is only a glimpse; we cannot see into the future or comprehend everything. Therefore, we must trust God now and do his work on earth.
Jesus offered the prescription for filling this restless yearning.
Matt 6:31-33
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The things that we usually worry about are secondary to the most important and crucial goal of all; seeking the Kingdom of God.
Whatever occupation or career goal we have, it must be to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” NIV
Setting the right goal produces true success. Our ultimate goal is the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we must make sure our goals contribute to lasting values (where we will spend eternity).
Bottom line: We must set goals that will yield lasting fulfillment by helping others and glorifying God.
2. Educate (or prepare) yourself—what knowledge and preparation is needed to accomplish the goal? We must never stop seeking knowledge as long as it leads to true wisdom.
There are two kinds of wisdom, James 3:13-15, 17
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. NIV
This passage describes the two types of wisdom.
The first type is fleshly wisdom that is unspiritual and from the devil. It leads to selfish ambition and envy. This is the wrong kind of wisdom that the world seeks. The wisdom of the world seeks power, position, and material possession and measures success by them. It is not true wisdom at all and does not produce lasting happiness.
The second wisdom is from above, from God, and produces good fruit and leads to happiness and peace. It yields service to others. While the false, worldly wisdom operates on the “get” principle, which is the default human nature of—self.
The knowledge we acquire must lead to true wisdom.
Prov1:7 “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Prov., 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Wisdom is the application of knowledge, and wisdom begins with knowing God. God gives insight into living because He created life. To know God, we must not just know the facts about Him; but we must have a personal relationship with him. If we genuinely want to be wise, we must get to know God better and better.
Scripture tells us how. James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. NIV
What is meant by “wisdom” here is not only knowledge but about the capability to make wise decisions, especially in difficult situations. Whenever wisdom is needed, we can pray to God, and He will generously provide what we need. We can always ask God for wisdom to guide our choices.
2 Peter 1:2
2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”
Many Christians desire an abundance of God’s grace and peace but are unwilling to make an effort needed to get to know him better through Bible study and prayer. To benefit from the privileges God offers us freely, we must grow in our knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Bottom line: we need godly wisdom and knowledge for true success.
3. Maintain good health— We have a responsibility to honor God with our bodies.
1 Cor. 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. NIV
When an individual becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit arrives to live in him. Consequently, he no longer owns his body. Because his body now belongs to God, he must not violate God’s standards for living.
1 Tim 4:8
8 “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that is now and of that which is to come.”
We will be in better shape to achieve our goals if we strive for physical fitness. However, physical fitness is limited, for we must be in shape both physically and spiritually.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on physical fitness in our society. However, spiritual health is even more critical. Our physical health is subject to injury and disease, but faith can uphold us through any tragedy. To condition ourselves to be godly, we must grow our faith by using our God-given capacities for the duties of the church.
Bottom line: we must develop our spiritual muscles as well as our physical ones.
4. Drive yourself—Rest is essential, but we can’t overdo it. God warns against being lazy.
Prov. 6:6-11
6 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no
commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” NIV
God uses the ant as an example that works diligently at its goal on its own without supervision. Once the goal is established, work at it until completion.
Bottom line: The motto for accomplishing a goal; keep it moving!
5. Be resourceful—the unexpected can and will happen. However, we must always search to find the resources available—do not give up, ask for wise counsel.
Prov. 15:22
22 “without counsel, plans go awry, but in a multitude of counselors they are established.”
We must constantly investigate our options, ask and pray for God’s help. Look at what happens when we ask for help. Matt 14:28-31
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” NIV
When Peter looked at his circumstance, he became overwhelmed and began to sink. but he cried out to the Lord and the Lord saved him.
We must never doubt. However, being human, we can stumble, and when we do, we must ask for help, and God will deliver.
We stumble when we look from Him to stare at ourselves or the circumstances that surround us. We should not be running for ourselves but Christ, and we should always keep him in our sight.
Bottom line: We must seek resources to deal with unexpected circumstances. After that, ask God for help. We must do our best and let God do the rest!
6. We must persevere toward our goals—we must stick to our goals; sticktoitiveness is in order—never give in!
Heb 12:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easiy ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (2) Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” NKJV
The Christian’s life entails hard work. It compels us to give up anything that endangers our relationship with God, to run with stamina, and to toil against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, ‘the author and finisher of our faith.”
Bottom line: we must run the race of life with perseverance!
7. Seek God’s continual guidance—In order to fulfill the previous six laws, we must follow this one. Seeking God: we must pray to Him, acknowledge Him, and follow Him.
Prov. 3:5-7,
5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
We are to trust the Lord in all of our circumstances and at all times. Being 
wise in our own eyes yields the wrong wisdom and results.
God promises to direct our paths and lead us through life to fulfill our human potential and ultimate destiny. Nevertheless, we must pray daily and act on the precious promises contained in His Word.
Isaiah 55:6-7,
”Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Hebrew 13:5 “…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
As the seven laws of success are applied, we will enjoy God’s blessings and true success. God desires us to live happy and abundant lives, but many chase happiness as a goal in itself. As a result, they become frustrated, aggravated, and discouraged. What needs to be recognized is that happiness is a consequence of something else—filling in the void mentioned above.
Bottom line – The greatest happiness comes as a consequence of having the greatest purpose, seeking God’s kingdom. A successful person is one who has discovered the will of God for their life and walks in it.
Amen
Questions, comments, concerns, and experiences with the 7 spiritual laws of success are welcomed below. You will receive a response.
Blessings!
For more articles see: TheChristianAdvocate.org
This has been an interesting read. There is a path to success. Or as some state, success leaves clues behind for others to follow in its footsteps. But concerning heavenly wisdom, what I have learned recently is that in occasions it contradicts earthly wisdom. That’s why the rulers of this world usually fall flat, because they pay more attention to earthly wisdom.
So true Paolo – God’s way is always the best way!
Thanks for commenting!
I think I have already established that my veiws on God are different from what many Christians believe. But i agree with these words of wisdom wholeheartedly. Solomon was a very wise king as more than just Biblical records show.
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Just a tip on your site. I would make the Graphics that quote solomon either a little bigger or a little smaller. Its a good image so i’d go large. If not, try aimm for 1 third to half size of the page. It saves your words being squished in so much.
I hope that helps.
Yes, Solomon was very wise, yet he fell. It just shows how much mercy we all need!
In reading this book, I was on the lookout for anything that contradicted Scripture. What I ended up thinking was that the 7 spiritual laws are in perfect harmony with Scripture. Maybe these are just laws (like gravity), maybe this is just how God designed the universe. Thoughts?
Yes, Stewart, it is exactly how God designed the universe. He is the creator and maker of all things.