How to Be Truly Successful

PRAY OVER THIS

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’”

Luke 16:19-24

 

PONDER THIS

Many successful people will miss Heaven. Can you imagine what it must have been like for this rich man? He was a great man in the eyes of people, but his soul was in Hell before the undertaker heard he was dead. Why? People like this are often victims of a cunning deception. They don’t realize how important it is to deal with their souls. They deal with their bank accounts. They deal with their golf games. They deal with their families. They deal with all these things, but they don’t deal with God.

Suppose there’s a house on fire. And in that house is a mother and her little baby in the crib. The mother smells the smoke. She knows the house is going to be consumed. So, she goes around and gets the pots and pans and carries them out. She goes and takes the pictures off the wall and carries them out. And so on with her things. And the whole time her baby is in the crib. You’d say she’s insane. We know that would be a terrible thing to do, but so many live this way. You are living for the trinkets of this world. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

What are some of the things of this world that distract you?

How can we remember to live for more than just success in this world?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down your definition of a successful life. Does that align with Scripture? What needs to change for you to make eternal investments?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Losing the Rainbow?

BIBLE MEDITATION

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

(Mark 8:36)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

I read a story that deeply touched my heart. A young preacher came to a mill town. He went to see the owner of the mill, who literally owned the town, to invite him to come to the church. The man answered, “Young man, you've not seen me in church, and you will not see me until my funeral. I own this town and this mill. It is my pot of gold. When I came here as a young immigrant, I heard that in America there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I have found the gold, but I have lost the rainbow.”

Now, I wonder if you're working for that pot of gold and forgetting the rainbow. Work is necessary, but life can’t be all work and no play. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). What he’s saying is, don’t be so busy making a living that you forget to live! So many people are doing that. God says that is vanity. There's a time to work. There’s also a time to rest.

ACTION POINT

If this describes you, life is passing you by! Your children are failing to have the joy and happiness God wants for each of you. Someone said, “If you're burning the candle at both ends, you're not as bright as you think you are.” Don’t forget to live! Work not solely for that gold. There’s a rainbow to behold.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers