Proverbs 16:3; 3:5-6
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Q: What is true success, and how do you obtain it?
Success isn’t about being the greatest athlete, being the best looking or having the most money. TRUE success is being obedient to Christ in everything that you do and seeking His guidance before making your own plans. We cannot rely on ourselves!
Proverbs 16:9
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
Q: A wise man once said, “Work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God, and you will find success.” Comment on this statement.
We should work hard, to the best of our ability, in all that we do, as long as it is pleasing to God. When we need guidance, we should pray and ask God instead of find our own path.
Proverbs 21:17
“He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.”
Q: What is Solomon’s warning in this passage?
If we only seek things of the world (pleasure, riches, looks, money, alcohol/drugs, porn), then we have nothing. Pleasure and money will not buy eternal happiness.
Proverbs 21:6
“The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.”
Q: Why is integrity more important to you than worldly success?
Worldly success is only temporary and will not last forever; the friends who follow you for that are not true friends. Being a man or woman of integrity can leave a lasting impact on those around you and even encourage others to follow Christ.
Psalms 15:1-4
“O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change.”
Q: How does David speak to you about true success in this passage?
David defines true success as having integrity, being honest and being obedient to Christ. This is opposite of what the world calls “success.”
Q: Which quality of a successful man, as described in this passage, impresses you the most?
Example: “The quality of integrity impresses me the most because I feel like it is all encompassing. If I have integrity, than I will be honest, not talk bad about my friends, and will seek the Lord in all I do.”
Picture
John 15:4-5 – “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart of Me you can do nothing.”
Q: What does it mean to “abide in the vine?”
To “abide in the vine” means to be united to Jesus, to depend on Jesus, and to remain in Jesus.
Q: Why is constant dependency on and fellowship with Jesus necessary for the achievement of true success?
We are dependent on Jesus because we gain life from Him. Without the vine (Jesus), the branch (we) is useless, lifeless, powerless. We are completely dependent upon Jesus for everything that counts as spiritual fruit, and apart from Him, we can do nothing.
Paul
Romans 8:5-8 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are flesh cannot please God.”
Q: Why is “walking in the Spirit” necessary for real, lasting success?
We have to walk in the Spirit to keep our sights set on things of Heaven and not of the world! If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, then we will be let tempted to be led astray by temptations.
Q: What is wrong with success gained by “walking in the flesh?” Apply this passage to the goals you are pursuing in your life today in academics, athletics and material gain.
If we gain success by “walking in the flesh,” then we are on the road to death. These successes are only temporary and turn our eyes away from Christ. Example: “If I gain success by being the best athlete or student, I need to give all the glory to God and let others know I didn’t do it on my own.”
Peter
2 Peter 1:5-7 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
Q: Find the eight “steps to success” in this passage. Why would the pursuit of these things result in true success?
The eight steps are 1.) faith 2.) moral excellence 3.) knowledge 4.) self-control 5.) perseverance 6.) Godliness 7.) brotherly kindness 8.) love.
If we continue to develop these qualities in our life, then we will be fruitful in His kingdom, and if we practice this obedience, then we will never stumble! Then, we are truly successful!
APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?
LOCKER ROOM: Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?
