What Is Success

Success is finding and fulfilling God’s will in your life. How this is accomplished is shown in the principles Jesus is teaching in the parable of the talents:

14 ¶ "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Matthew 25:14-30

1st Principle – (v.14)We are slaves to Jesus. This is where many people will stop. They refuse to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. By refusing His Lordship, they refuse His Savior-hood. Jesus makes it very clear: we have been bought with a price, we are not our own. If Jesus has saved you, then He owns you. It is as simple as that. You belong to Him.
2nd Principle – (v.15) Jesus has entrusted us according to our ability. Each of us is unique. We all have abilities that God intends for us to use for His glory.
3rd Principle – (v.16-17) God has placed the seed of success into the very soil of our abilities. All we have to do is perform the work God has called us to do.
4th Principle – (v.18,24-30) God will not bless those who do not serve Him with all their hearts. “If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand.” Use it not for the Savior, and you’ll lose it to sin.
5th Principle – (v.19-23) God honors those who honor Him. Success is, one day, hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.”