5 Tips to Attain Success in 2010

January 31, 2010 > No Comments

Around the first of the year I found various lists on how to make the New Year better. Lists for more wealth. Lists for more happiness. Lists for more time. Lists for a better love life. And on and on it goes.

While each of these lists was good in their own right, I felt that each one was missing something. Biblical instruction.

I pray that this list will encourage and inspire you to improve your life and in turn the lives of others.

Be Thankful
Are you willing to close your book of complaints and to open the Book of praise?

Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said that “when the fire of gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart, that man is well nigh hopeless.”
An ungrateful and unthankful spirit leads to gross sin and more misery.

Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Be Unselfish
Are you willing to stop looking for friendship and start being friendly?

Remember the old Sunday School acronym J-O-Y? Jesus – Others – You. This attitude, while it pleases the Lord and obeys him, it also invites blessings!
King Solomon, rather than ask for selfish pleasures asked for an understanding heart so that he might be a help to others. This pleased the Lord and look what he was blessed with for his unselfishness:

I Kings 3:11-14
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Be Humble
Are you willing to believe others are quite as sincere as you and to treat them with respect?

Spurgeon said: Pride goeth not before salvation, but before
destruction; and a haughty spirit is no prophecy of elevation, but the herald of a fall.
Humility not only appeases God’s wrath (King Ahab repented and humbled himself before God and the Lord had mercy on him. See: I Kings 21) but it is a prerequisite for being exalted.

Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Luke 14:11
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Be Industrious
Are you willing to ignore what life owes you and think about what YOU owe to life?

Hard work IS the key to success!

Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Proverbs 22:29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Be Willing to Sacrifice
Are you willing to cease looking for someone to help you, and devote yourself to helping others?

Giving up of your time, your talents, your resources.

II Timothy 2:3, 4
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Hebrews 13:16
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

I sincerly hope that 2010 finds you happier and more successful but most importantly I hope it finds you drawing closer to the Lord.

Be blessed!