Principles for Success

January 1, 1989

Proverbs 3: 1 - 11

Introduction:

Three dynamic principles combine in one powerful statement of confidence in this passage from Proverbs. Here we have a formula for progress and for victory. If we will carefully GIVE ATTENTION, and then in faith SEEK TO OBEY our part— the commandment side of each equation, then God will most certainly carry out His part on the PROMISE SIDE. We may depend on HIM!

What are these principles? Perhaps we may see them best as we relate to what we will NEED in this New Year, and indeed, what we will need all the days of our lives:

I. WE NEED DEFINITE DIRECTION FROM GOD

Only a fool thinks that he can chart his course with certainty in any and every situation of life, let alone in spiritual matters for time and eternity.

But when we know what to do, then half the battle is won! [Even sanctified Christians know this struggle! They are willing to do God's will, but as they face decision time, HOW are we to know what God wants?]

How often people struggle on blindly in dead-end situations, impossible situations that will never change, when just a little change of direction here, or a shift of emphasis there would mean a totally different outlook.

So many people are frustrated by what seems like a futile round of toil and meaningless activity, of boredom and emptiness, when a new sense of motivation, a fresh perception of GUIDANCE would make all the difference in the world.

But that insight never seems to come! That new direction is never taken!

["Spotters" or assistant coaches sit high above the football field. They are connected with the men on field level; they see the opposition from a higher, overall view. And many a game has been won or lost because A HIGHER VIEW saw something that could never have been seen at ground level. An adjustment has been made.

[WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL IF SOMEHOW WE COULD GET THAT 'HIGHER VIEW?' -KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO?]

Hear God's promise: "I WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS!"

But as with every promise in the Bible, there is a condition to be met. [This is not to say that God's promises "work" by "our works." But we do have a part to play in every promise that we claim.] AND HERE OUR PART IS TWO-FOLD:

  1. TRUST (LOVE) WITH ALL YOUR HEART. This means that you are to throw away your "reserve clauses" and "escape schemes." You do not, you will not "hedge" against failure.

    Actually our love involves both AFFECTION and TRUST.

    AFFECTION means literally telling God that we do love Him, and that we are seeking ways to love and serve Him better. Our prayers should not merely be done from duty, or so that we can 'get more things done,' but more and more they should be seeking COMMUNION: learning to know God and to develop a Father-child relationship with Him.

    TRUST means coming to believe in God's INTEGRITY. Integrity means living in truth what we say with our words.

    Illus: [Your earthly father says "Rake the leaves and then we'll go to the ball game together." Lack of trust says, "(1) I won't rake the leaves because I don't feel like it." or "(2) I'll rake the leaves because Dad will be angry with me if I don't!"— but then I'll run off because I don't really think dad will have time to go to the ball game or that he will want to when he comes home.]

    [So, the first part of the COMMANDMENT SIDE is TRUST/LOVE, and the second part is:]

  2. OBEDIENCE...(IN ALL THY WAYS!.) And this is where we really begin to feel the rub! For God's promises are never set up for "trial runs" or "part-time usage." The simple reason why many people do not prosper in their souls is because they acknowledge God in 99% or less of their ways. It is that last 1% that is critical. God simply can not and will not bless a hold- out.

    God does not expect ABSOLUTE perfection from any of us. But He does want our love and loyalty. And He wants ALL OF US that there is!

[So, in summary of this first of three phases of this New Year's promise:]

We need direction.. and as we give to God our total love and trust... we can claim His promise. THEN GOD IS BOUND BY THE INTEGRITY OF HIS WORD TO DIRECT OUR PATHS!

[Transition: This whole message is contained in this first section. It doesn't get any better than having God direct our paths. But this passage goes on to highlight and illuminate and expand on this theme of victory. Here is another need:]

II. WE NEED VIGOR AND ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH TO PURSUE LIFE'S GOALS

And believe me, this is much more easily talked about than demonstrated! What a wonderful, wonderful blessing is physical health! And health of mind is even more blessed and wonderful! And perhaps health of the inner person, the spirit and soul health is best of all.

It is my conviction that this passage touches to some extent all three kinds of health— body, mind, and soul/spirit. I know that even the body benefits from this second part of this great promise from God's Word:

HEAR GOD'S PROMISE: "THIS WILL BRING HEALTH TO YOUR BODY, AND NOURISHMENT TO YOUR BONES."

But once again, we have a brief- but-very-definite condition to fulfill in order to qualify for the promise. And once again, our part of the equation is in two parts:

  1. DON'T BE A KNOW-IT-ALL. Don't be wise in your own eyes. How many of us have missed opportunities to grow because we have been talking when we should have been listening. And if this is true when we talk with people here on earth, how much more when Almighty God is concerned?

    We need to be OPEN and on the ALERT to just how God wants to communicate with us. [ON TIP-TOE TO CATCH THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT!] And yet the very people that need this the most will be the very last to think that this applies to them!

    "Just the message for SAM!" they will say! But perhaps YOU are the one who needs a radical change of spirit? ? ?

    How many hard places we suffer through... how many blame God for the difficult place to which He has brought us... when it could just be that some of the hard knocks are evidence of our unwillingness to learn, to be taught!

  2. TURN AWAY ENTIRELY FROM ALL KNOWN EVIL! Declare WAR on sin! Have absolutely NO fraternization with the enemy! FLEE from temptation! AVOID the very appearance of evil— not because of what people will say or think— but because you want God's health. [A PRACTICAL APPLICATION: You are sitting comfortably before the TV when something comes on ... gets your interest ... which soon offends your spirit just the slightest. TURN IT OFF TO THE GLORY OF GOD! TURN IT OFF WITH A PRAYER: "Father, I want You to fill my mind, and not this garbage! Amen."]

    Ask God for a holy ANGER! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your own shortcomings ... how prone we humans are to actually enjoy the exposure of great sins in others while at the same time we excuse the sins we consider "small" that we harbor in our own thought life!

    Sins like: harsh judgment of others ... an unloving, critical spirit ... any kind of double-dealing— of lying by implication ... we must shun— turn away— reject anything like this, anything that is not of God's Spirit.

    And why should we turn away from evil? (1) Because of other people's personal convictions? NO (2) because of legalistic standards? NO (3) Because of fear of what people might say? NO

    We turn away from evil because IF WE TURN AWAY WE SHALL ENJOY GOOD HEALTH! So many people are not robust, healthy Christians because they have never been convinced of the need to HATE SIN as well as to LOVE THE LORD!

[Transition: GUIDANCE! HEALTH! Wonderful promises! But finally this passage of God's promises becomes very down-to-earth and practical indeed!

Our economic prosperity is built on the film of a soap- bubble. The future of New England and America and your future and mine are certainly very uncertain.

But in the midst of all this uncertainty, do I have the courage to tell you that GOD IS PROMISING PROSPERITY IN 1989??

Do I begin to sound like the "Name it and claim it" prophets?

Well- what is it that we really NEED?]

III. IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES WE NEED ABUNDANCE, AND NOT JUST A STARVING, DYING EXISTENCE

I'm aware that for a little while this morning I am going to sound a little like a TV preacher. And I don't want to get the cart before the horse. This is never an enticement to become a Christian. Christ still says: "Take up your CROSS daily, and follow Me!"

BUT I ALSO HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT AS WE FOLLOW JESUS, GOD IS GOING TO SUPPLY EVERY GENUINE NEED— AND THAT, BROTHER, SISTER— THAT IS TRUE ABUNDANCE!

Once again, our side of the equation is two-fold:

  1. FIRST: HONOR THE LORD WITH OUR SUBSTANCE! (This means our money, and our material benefits which we have received from our righteous labors.)

    ALL our substance should honor the Lord! And this does not mean that God is not interested in the beautiful things, the flower gardens and the vacations and recreation that may be available. Jesus Himself endorsed vacations (even if He didn't get to practice them as much as He would have liked.)

    But honoring the Lord with ALL of our substance does mean that God does not want us dividing our lives into one part which is God's, and sacred, and another part which is "ours" and secular, and has nothing to do with God.

    [When ALL of life is submitted, THERE COMES A RADICAL CHANGE! It may not seem like a miracle; but when we honor God with ALL, then HE works wonders!:

    Illus: [A heckler asked a street preacher in Britain if he really believed that 'hogwash' about Jesus changing water into wine— and the street preacher said, "I don't know all about that; but in my house Jesus has changed beer into furniture!"]

  2. SECOND: WE HONOR GOD WITH THE FIRST-FRUITS OF OUR INCOME. (Please, this part of my message is just for born-again Christians. i wouldn't think of asking non-believers to believe this part!*)

    I am talking now about the principle of STOREHOUSE TITHING. If there were ever a time when i wanted to be faithful to the principle of storehouse tithing it would be in a time of adversity. For tithing makes me, on a very practical level, a partner with God.

    I used to preach tithing in the hopes that it would help out the church in its finances. Which, by the way, it did.

    BUT NOW I PREACH STOREHOUSE TITHING BECAUSE I GENUINELY WANT CHRISTIANS TO FIND ABUNDANCE! (One of the very first principles in business is not to steal from your partner!

    (And any time I can get set up in partnership with the wealthiest person in all the world, who promises to meet all my needs if I trust him with all my assets. I am a fool if I don't take him at his word! And I am a fool if I don't play square with him— and walk in abundance!)

If you would be free in your faith as you face the uncertainties of the future, then stay PRAYED UP, and stay PAID UP! If you would claim God's partnership in your projects, in your areas of need, then tithe from a proper motivation.

Christian! I challenge you to be a storehouse tither!

Conclusion:

[Finally, then,] What has this passage said to us about DYNAMIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COMING YEAR ??

IT SAYS: GOD'S PROMISES EXACTLY MEET OUR NEED!

We need DIRECTION; and we may have God's GUIDANCE by LOVING and OBEYING Him.

We need VITALITY AND HEALTH; and we may claim God's promise as we are HUMBLE BEFORE HIM, and as we ESCHEW EVIL.

We need ABUNDANCE; and God has promised to honor us AS WE HONOR HIM WITH OUR POSSESSIONS AND PRACTICE STOREHOUSE TITHING.

We are NOT helpless pawns of Fate as we face this New Year, and all the years of life which God may permits us to know. God help us to avail ourselves of these tremendous promises in our text.

#64 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah