Integrity- People of God

Success has been defined by the world as the attainment of wealth, position and honor; the attainment, performance or achievement of ones goals that can bring honor and respect.  In the book of Joshua, the Bible defines success as one who is intelligent, prosperous, prudent, skillful, and wise and behavesself wittingly. It also explains how to be successful, by meditating on the word of God Day and night and to not depart from doing what is right.

Joshua1:8-9 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” NKJ

We are to be a people who live by God’s word both in the day and in the night. Some people want to live with multiple personalities. One side they show to the public during the day and another they display at night when they are alone or with their groupies, fans and enthusiasts. 

The world is going after what they define as success with suchtenacity, determination and drive like never before. Thisdistorted and perverse way of thinking about success has led many people astray, they are becoming self-centered and self-indulging. We see people giving up on and leaving their families to free themselves of their responsibility only to indulge, pamper and focus on themselves alone without any other obligations or liabilities. All because they lack the true understanding of how to obtain and rightfully use success.   

It is God who created and designed mankind and He is the One who has established our purpose and defined the meaning of success for not only this life time but for all eternity. We werecreated in the image and likeness of God with the task of having rule and dominion over the things He has given us on the earth.  Our purpose is to be the glory of God by revealing, reflecting and resembling His love, splendor and praise on the earth. God did not create us to barely exist or to scarcely survive in life. He gave us dominion and authority over our lives and sphere of influence that we may show those who are lost, the love of God and how to find eternal life. 

Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”   So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.   Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”NKJ

Many people are going through life thinking there is no hope for them. They have been brainwashed by this fallen world’s teaching and line of thought that there is lack and everyone should be for themselves and to think only of themselves. Thepeople perish for lack of knowledge and understanding of God’s principles and precepts, and go after the world’s way of ideas, views and beliefs. 

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. NKJ

Many people end up forsaking the good, eternal and ultimate purpose for the lesser and fleeting, short-lived and temporary things. They will discard their families, children and the welfare of human souls, which are eternal beings, for the passing and fading wealth of this world. 

Proverbs 18:1-2 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment. A fool has no delight in understanding but in expressing his own heart. NKJ

We are told to keep His commandments, to be merciful and to know and walk in His truth. The one new commandment Jesus gave us was to love others as He has loved us, and that would be unselfishly and sacrificially. God gives the command with a promise of long life, favor and high esteem in the sight of God and mankind. 

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  NKJ

God has told us what is required of us and what we are to do. To be just in all our affairs, that is to do the right thing. To love mercy, that is to forgive everybody everything. To walk humblybefore God, that is to live simply and unassumingly without pride and self-importance.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

God is a generational God. He wants to make a covenant, a contract, a promise with not just us but with our children and their children. God choose Abraham knowing he would teach his children, God’s word. That is what God is doing today, teaching and training us, through His word and Holy Spirit, that we may teach and train our children in the things of God.

Genesis 18:18-19 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” NKJ

Isaiah 54:13-14 All your children shall be taught by the Lord,And great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Success is knowing the one True and loving God so that we, our children and our posterity will be established in love and righteousness in the earth.