Success

Proverbs 3:3-6 says:

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

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 straight your paths.

These verses are commonly read at graduations as students begin planning for their futures. The focus is placed on Proverbs 3:5-6, but today I want to look at what comes before that, what has to come first in the path to success.

Do you want to be successful? I've struggled so long with what it means to be successful because most of my life I believed that success was based on having a good job. I thought the first two steps to being successful were a high school diploma and a college degree. I was wrong. These verses tell us that the first two steps on the ladder to success are "steadfast love and faithfulness." How many people lose their grasp on love and faith as they climb the corporate ladder?

God says we need "steadfast love and faithfulness." We need to grasp hold of love and faith that cannot be moved. The definition of steadfast is "firmly fixed in place [IMMOVABLE], not subject to change" or "firm in belief, determination, or adherence [LOYAL]." Is your faith in God immovable? Is your love for Him loyal? Or are you going to forsake your faith and God's love as you strive for worldly gains?

Notice in verse 4 that God comes before man. If you strive to find favor and success in the eyes of God, I believe you will find it in the eyes of man as well. However, the same isn't true if God and man are reversed. You will not find favor and success in the eyes of God by trying to find them in the eyes of man.

Strive for success in God's eyes by binding love and faith around your life. If your decisions are based on your love for God and your faith stays firm, He will bless your life with success you never imagined. He may have to change your view of success (like He did mine), but He knows what is best for you and will lead you down the path of success if you love and trust Him as your guide.