How to be a Huge Success in Life

“How to be a Huge Success in Life”

Success according to the Bible

Success . . .

• How would you define success?

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• How is success usually defined?

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Bumper Sticker DefinitionBumper Sticker Definition

Three Important Steps

I. I. The Right Perspective on Our The Right Perspective on Our PURPOSEPURPOSE

Our Purpose in Life . . .Our Purpose in Life . . .

What is the meaning of life?What is the meaning of life?

It’s a good question!It’s a good question!Dr. Hugh Moorhead, Dr. Hugh Moorhead, philosophy professor at philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois Northeastern Illinois University once wrote to University once wrote to 250 of the best-known 250 of the best-known philosophers, scientists, philosophers, scientists, writers, and intellectuals in writers, and intellectuals in the world.the world.

He asked this singular He asked this singular question: “What is the question: “What is the meaning of life?”meaning of life?”

Dr. Moorhead published their responses in Dr. Moorhead published their responses in a book.a book.

Some offered their best guesses, some Some offered their best guesses, some admitted that they just made up a purpose admitted that they just made up a purpose for life, and others were honest enough to for life, and others were honest enough to say they were clueless. say they were clueless.

In fact, a number of famous intellectuals In fact, a number of famous intellectuals asked Professor Moorhead to write back asked Professor Moorhead to write back and tell them if he discovered the purpose and tell them if he discovered the purpose of life!of life!

First Baptist Church: September 25th through November 7th

So What So What isis our Purpose? our Purpose?

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1640s):Westminster Shorter Catechism (1640s):

Q: “What is the chief end of man?”Q: “What is the chief end of man?”

A: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and A: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”to enjoy Him forever.”

1 Corinthians 10:31, “ . . . Whatever you 1 Corinthians 10:31, “ . . . Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” do, do all to the glory of God.”

Words of Jesus . . .Words of Jesus . . .

““What will it profit a man if he What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)(Mark 8:36)

““I have come that you may I have come that you may have life, and that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly” have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)(John 10:10)

Isaiah 55:8-9Isaiah 55:8-9

““My thoughts are not your thoughts, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” says neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.the Lord.

““For as the heavens are higher than the For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”your thoughts.”

PowerPower

Three Three businessmen businessmen were comparing were comparing ideas on what ideas on what they thought it they thought it meant to be meant to be successful.successful.

The first said, “I’d say The first said, “I’d say I had arrived if I were I had arrived if I were summoned to the summoned to the White House for a White House for a private, personal private, personal meeting with the meeting with the president of the president of the United States.”United States.”

The second said, “To The second said, “To me success would me success would mean meeting with mean meeting with the president in the the president in the oval office, having the oval office, having the hot line ring during hot line ring during our talk, and watching our talk, and watching the president ignore the president ignore it.”it.”

The third said, “I think The third said, “I think you’re a success if you’re a success if you’re privately you’re privately consulting with the consulting with the president, the hot line president, the hot line rings, he picks it up, rings, he picks it up, and says, ‘It’s for and says, ‘It’s for you.’”you.’”

Words of Paul . . .Words of Paul . . .

““Do not be conformed to this Do not be conformed to this world . . .” world . . .” (Romans 12:2)(Romans 12:2)

““Don’t let the world squeeze Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.”you into its mold.”

Action QuestionsAction Questions

1.1. What steps have I taken to ensure that I What steps have I taken to ensure that I am fulfilling my ultimate purpose in life?am fulfilling my ultimate purpose in life?

2.2. What else do I need to do in this area?What else do I need to do in this area?

Three Important Steps

I. The Right Perspective on Our PURPOSE

Next Step

II. The Right Perspective on Our POSSESSIONS

George Bernard Shaw

• “There are two sources of unhappiness in life . . .

• One is not getting what you want;

• The other is getting it.”

Money is Money is NotNot the Key to the Key to HappinessHappiness

Words of Solomon . . .Words of Solomon . . .

““He who loves silver will not be He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity” This also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)(Ecclesiastes 5:10)


““We brought nothing into this world, We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing and it is certain we can carry nothing out. out.

And having food and clothing, with And having food and clothing, with these things we shall be content” these things we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:7-8)(1 Timothy 6:7-8)

Crown Financial Ministries

• Debt counseling . . .• “What do you think

the answer to your problem is?”

• “We need to make more money.”


““Take heed and beware of Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).(Luke 12:15).

Words of Paul . . .Words of Paul . . . ““But those who desire to be rich fall into But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)(1 Timothy 6:9-10)


1.1. Am I too focused on the accumulation of Am I too focused on the accumulation of “things?”“things?”

2.2. What steps do I need to take to ensure What steps do I need to take to ensure that I have the right perspective here?that I have the right perspective here?

Three StepsThree Steps

I.I. The Right Perspective on Our The Right Perspective on Our PURPOSEPURPOSE

II.II. The Right Perspective on Our The Right Perspective on Our POSSESSIONSPOSSESSIONS

III.III. The Right Perspective on Our The Right Perspective on Our PRIORITIESPRIORITIES


““Pay careful attention to how you Pay careful attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil” because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16)(Ephesians 5:15-16)

Patrick Morley

• “How are you doing?”

• “I’m busy and balanced.”

Right Priorities in Two Areas Right Priorities in Two Areas

1.1. FamilyFamily

2.2. FutureFuture

Scott Davis . . .Scott Davis . . .

““Do you want to go Do you want to go with me?”with me?”

““Where?”Where?”

““I didn’t ask you I didn’t ask you that. I said, ‘Do that. I said, ‘Do you want to go with you want to go with me?’”me?’”

““If you’re not a success at If you’re not a success at homehome, , you’re not a success” you’re not a success”

Take time to be with family. Take time to be with family.

Schedule it on your calendar.Schedule it on your calendar.

Billy GrahamBilly Graham

““If I could live my If I could live my life over again, one life over again, one of the things I would of the things I would try to do is spend try to do is spend more time with my more time with my family . . .”family . . .”

Right Priorities in Two Areas Right Priorities in Two Areas

1.1. FamilyFamily

2.2. FutureFuture

Words of James . . .Words of James . . .

““What is your life? It is even a What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14)(James 4:14)


““For God so loved the world that For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal should not perish but have eternal life” life” (John 3:16).(John 3:16).


1.1. Am I making time to be with family?Am I making time to be with family?

2.2. What preparations have I made for the What preparations have I made for the future?future?

“How to Be a Huge Success in Life”

1. Have the Right Perspective on your PURPOSE.

2. Have the Right Perspective on your POSSESSIONS.

3. Have the Right Perspective on your PRIORITIES.

Spiritual

How to be a Huge Success in Life