Kingdom Success: God’s Standard, Not Man’s

This article first appeared in Team Jesus Magazine.

Everyone desires success. No one sets out to fail—I know I don’t. Yet in a moment of deep reflection in the Word of God, a question pierced my heart: What does success mean to God?

Before accepting Jesus, I—like many others—mistakenly measured success by the accumulation of wealth. We tend to label people successful if they have high-paying careers, multiple homes, nice cars, or a legacy that impresses the world. But does God see it the same way? As believers, we are called to examine everything through His lens and define success according to our true roadmap—the Word of God.

What is Success?

Dictionaries define success as an accomplishment. But surprisingly, the word “success” is written only once in the Bible (KJV). 

Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (KJV)

There is so much to this Scripture, and it speaks volumes to the church. The words “prosperous” and “success” are terms that the church magnifies. Every person is seeking their path to prosperity and success. However, God’s Word does not base success and prosperity on the increase of goods, unlike the world. Look at the Scripture; nowhere does it correlate success with business, finances, money, or blessings. Success and prosperity are not autonomous—they are the result of obedience to God.

Yet success and prosperity have long been equated with wealth and financial gain, shaping our mindsets to measure worth by what is visible, owned, and tangible. Humankind teaches that the accumulation of goods is the evidence of success—more money, more followers, more acceptance. This perspective has been so ingrained that it has subtly redefined success in the church, causing many to pursue what looks impressive to men rather than what is pleasing to God.

We’ve all heard of the "prosperity gospel." However, throughout Scripture, many individuals, including our Savior, experienced times of lack, as seen in Matthew 8:20. Yet they are those whom God defines as successful. 

Is having money and possessions a sin? Certainly not. However, we must shift our perspective on what true success is and reconsider who we recognize as successful, especially when their achievements do not align with God's definition of success.

Joshua 1:8 outlines three requirements for achieving success and prosperity:

1. Do not let God’s law depart from your mouth.

2. Meditate on His law day and night.

3. Follow all that is written in God’s law.

When all three of these conditions are met, the Scripture concludes with a promise of prosperity and good success.

Desire Good Success

I find it particularly interesting that Joshua 1:8 specifies a certain type of success. The term "good" is used as an adjective to describe this success. Adjectives serve as critical tools for understanding biblical revelations. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that He is "the way, the truth, and the life." The use of the definite article "the" indicates that there is only one way, one truth, and one life—Jesus Christ. This highlights that phrases like "my truth" are doctrinally incorrect. Similarly, Joshua 1:8 uses the adjective “good” to describe the type of success God is referring to.

Since we can conclude that success can be good, there must be an opposite. So what is the opposite of “good” success? I recorded a podcast episode discussing the word “good” and its biblical significance. It goes beyond merely describing the quality of something; it is also associated with God's approval. With this understanding, we can define true success as accomplishments that He approves. Conversely, the opposite of good success can be described as achievements that lack God’s approval.

You might wonder what makes an accomplishment unapproved by God. It occurs when it violates God’s law in any way. Let me be as plain as possible. You may see someone with nice houses, fancy cars, and significant wealth, and assume they are truly successful. While it's true that they have achieved a certain form of success, it may have come from activities such as drug dealing, embezzlement, or fraud. However, we cannot label their form of "success" as good because God does not approve of the means by which they attained it.

You might wonder: What if a person is a believer and has gained their wealth honestly? Are they considered successful? Is success only meant for Christians? The answer is both yes and no. If a person claims to be a believer but fails to meet the criteria for success—by not following the Word of God—can we truly consider that person successful? According to Joshua 1:8, the answer is no. Material possessions will not accompany anyone into eternity. Regardless of one’s beliefs, we will all stand before God, bringing only what we came into this world with—our souls. How we live our lives will determine the condition of that soul. While we may be saved by grace, we will be judged according to our works (Revelation 20:12).

Another example of an achievement that cannot be considered a good success is when people are indirectly involved in sin. For instance, a person might find wealth by owning a brothel. Although they are not personally engaging in prostitution, they facilitate others in sinning against God. Therefore, their accomplishments cannot be considered a good success.

As an author, if I become a New York Times bestseller by writing a book that glorifies any form of sin, I cannot consider that success. I would rather have two people buy my book, which contains the unadulterated truth of God, than have one million people purchase a book that promotes sin and illuminates immorality.

Jesus warned the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:17 about what we might call "unapproved success." The people possessed wealth and material goods, yet Jesus described them as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” These words are profoundly serious, coming from the Lord.

I hope my passion isn't taken as belittling anyone's achievements. It pains me to see my brothers and sisters pursuing a type of success that does not align with God's approval. Instead, we are called to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). When our priorities align with God's will, we can trust that we are rich in heaven, even if the world does not recognize us as successful.

Live The Approved Life

I sincerely desire that you live a life that is pleasing to God. I want you to have prosperity and abundance, but not at the expense of your soul. The Bible says in Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (KJV)

Let me provide you with one last illustration. Let's say you receive a prophetic word or a dream, and in it, someone tells you, “You are going to be a person of great influence. Many will follow you. You will lead. Your name will be written and remembered for generations to come.” At first glance, you may be praising God because this sounds like success. But this can be a “word” given to both a “Deborah” or a “Jezebel” if you are a woman. If you are a man, a “David” and a “Saul.” All four people had “success”, but one man and woman’s fruit was good, and the others' was evil. 

So, What’s the Play Call?

I often hear people say, “If Jesus were here today, I would follow Him.” It’s easy to make such statements, but we must be cautious not to become like those who rejected Jesus. He warned that, in the last days, if possible, even the very “elect” would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). So we know that deception is very powerful.

Consider this: if Jesus were present today, many might label Him as unsuccessful. He had nowhere to rest His head (Matthew 8:19-20), needed to catch fish to pay His taxes, faced imprisonment, and died at just 33 years old. Similarly, John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey, and wore clothing made of animal hair. Yet, it was those in positions of power—those deemed successful—who rejected them, sentencing both Jesus and John to death.

It is time that you and I seek a clearer vision. We have to look through the eyes of God and His Word, or we will find ourselves approving what God hates. To the world, godly success doesn’t look as prestigious. But if you never inherit this earth’s good, think about the crown of life that will sit tall and beautifully upon your head when God, the Father, and Jesus our Lord welcome you into their Kingdom for a job well done. 

After all that you have read, what is success to you now?

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