What Are God’s Promises for Your Success at Your Work?Sýnishorn

Epilogue: Finding God’s Plan for your success 

Here’s where we left off at the end of the last reading; the Old Testament records many of God’s promises of prosperity and success but directed to the nation of Israel, not us.

Furthermore, Jesus did not reference or extend these promises to you but instead overturned the thinking of worldly success with a completely new concept of success related to the Kingdom of God.

These are some pretty dramatic findings, and they seem so very opposite to what you might have thought the Bible was saying to you today.

So what does this now mean for you at your workplace? Is God no longer giving business or workplace success to anyone? Should you even try to be successful? What kind of success should you pursue?

The Bible is full of reassurance and has a lot to say about this. Jesus sets the stage with words like these:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

And immediately follows with this:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  – Matthew 6:34

James adds to the message, saying:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  – James 4:13-14a

And Paul adds to the mix with this:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2a

Once you set yourself apart from the pattern of the world and its definition of success, then God will reveal to you what His will is – what His plan of success for your life may be.

God gave you a unique set of gifts, whether leadership, administration, technical, caring, or other, which you are to use at your work or wherever you may find yourself:  

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  – 1 Peter 4:10

By doing this to the best of our ability, you will find success and build “treasure in heaven,” just as the Bible says:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  – Colossians 3:23-24

And, as you apply yourself in this way, who knows what other worldly prosperity and success God may grant? Of course, as you first seek His Kingdom and His will, isn’t the measure of prosperity, success, or wealth given rather secondary?

Want to find out more about God’s plan for your success? Then pick a next reading plan from the list below to learn more:   

• Biblical Leadership series 
• What the Bible Says series  
• Christian at Work series 

Reflection / Application   

1. How has God gifted you? Are you able to apply those gifts at your workplace?   
2. Did this reading plan reset your idea of success? Does that impact your career or workplace goals?   
3. It’s said that most people only gain the right perspective on work and success on their deathbed, but as Christians, we can realize this perspective when we die to ourselves and are reborn in the Spirit. Is that the case for you too?