“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8
Very often, we read a verse like this and are prone to thinking that we want a piece of the action. We want success! We want prosperity!
After all, isn’t this why televangelists and the faces of the prosperity gospel have captivated such a wide audience? The audience, who sends in money hoping for a ten-fold return, is seeking after financial prosperity. They want easy money, and more of it. We blame the people pushing the health and wealth gospel, but they would not engage in deceptive tactics were it not for people giving them money. We can apply the same principle to a variety of aspects in life.
We measure success by growing businesses, larger buildings, bigger homes, and faster, more luxurious cars. Of course, success as the world measures it can also be imitated, particularly through debt or fraud which helps to create the illusion of financial prosperity. People blinded by jealousy and greed have committed massive frauds just to imitate the picture of success. Success is also often defined by fame, notoriety, and power. We want to be known or to have power. It is often believed that amassing power and control represents success.
None of this is in view in how the Bible defines success. But that does not necessarily mean righteousness consists of poverty and ashes. It is true that Jesus spoke of how much more difficult it is for a person wealthy in the world’s eyes to enter into heaven. The only reason for this is that the world’s wealth creates an illusion of security and strength.
Only when things seem to go wrong in our lives do we really drill more deeply into what it means to trust in God’s grace and strength to endure. We would prefer to question God and that He has abandoned us. However, if we instead accept that God has something else or greater in mind, we can begin to trust that the Lord’s grace and strength are sufficient.
First, we will consider the Biblical definition of “success” in Joshua 1:8. This word literally means “prudent”. We could translate the closing phrase in the verse as “then you will be prudent.” This definition changes the meaning of the verse. Joshua is not referring to unlocking the secret ingredients of financial success.
Second, much like wisdom in Proverbs 11:30 results from living out righteousness, we will consider the pathway to success in Joshua 1:8.
There are two avenues to success in particular, namely, meditating and conduct. We are to meditate on the book of the law and be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
In other words, to have success according to the Biblical definition, we must be reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible. Next, we must be putting into practice the righteous conduct revealed in the Bible. If we meditate on the Bible and practice it through our conduct, we will be prudent.
This is the same meaning of “prosperous” in our verse. The two words “prosperous” and “success” have the same meaning in view.
Righteousness, both in the heart and in our daily conduct, are in view in the words of Jesus in such verses as:
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mark 10:21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Revelation 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
It is interesting that Jesus, speaking to the rich young ruler, told him that he lacked something. In the eyes of the man, he was wealthy and powerful. He was the envy of the world. However, even after amassing worldly wealth and power, Jesus tells him that he lacked something.
I still like the Thayer’s Lexicon entry on James 5:16, and it is applicable here. “[Effective] does not have the force of an adjective, but gives the reason why the [prayer] of a righteous man has outward success, namely, as due to the fact that it exhibits its activity (works) (inwardly), i.e. is solemn and earnest.”
In Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29, Jesus provides the same answer to the disciples’ question of why they were unsuccessful in casting out the demon. “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (KJV) Jesus was referring to power, and the object of the discussion was success.
Heaven measures success through fasting and prayer, just as much as studying the Bible and conduct. The successful person is the one whose name is heard frequently in heaven, which is only accomplished through prayer, fasting, and righteous obedience.
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