What does the Bible say about Success? (10 tips)

The word success can have different meanings to different people depending on their experience of being successful in life.

As Christians, we see success not just from what we attain in society but from what the Bible indeed says about success.

The Bible teaches us that success truly comes from God and that He promises to bless those who are diligent in their work.

Let's try and answer the question on what does the Bible say about success.

What is Success?

Success is the accomplishment of aim and purpose in life (dictionary definition). The key thing you need to know about success from a biblical point of view is that God is the giver of success.

This is evident in the following scriptures:

Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV) - "I answered them by saying, The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) - "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

To truly say you are successful, you must become that person God wants you to become. You must have a willing heart to let God use you to fulfil what he has called you to do on earth.

Many are being deceived into thinking success equates to wealth. Yes, the world may see success as wealth, but from God's viewpoint, success is accomplishing what He has chosen you to do in life.

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To be truly successful, you must be committed, dedicated, motivated, inspired, and innovative.

Things you need to be successful (Bible Verses about Success)

To succeed as a Christian, you must adopt certain life principles that align with God's word. Below are ten things you need to be successful (with verses) as a child of God with bible verses.

1. Your cooperation with God is needed

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) - "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

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2. You must have a vision

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) - "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

3. You must be willing and determined

Isaiah 1:19 (NIV) - "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land."

4. You must be hard working

Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV) - "The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none."

5. You must be prayerful

Nehemiah 1:11 (NIV) - "O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. I was cupbearer to the king."

6. You must seek the will of God in all things

2 Chronicles 26:4-5 (NIV) - "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success."

7. Be under a spiritual leader who hears from God

2 Chronicles 26:5 (NIV) - "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success."

8. You must be skilful

Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV) - "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success."

9. You must have the fear of God

1 Chronicles 22:13 (NIV) - "Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged."

10. You must meditate on God's word

Joshua 1:8 (NIV) - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Successful Characters in the Bible

David

When David prayed for his son Solomon, he said in 1 Chronicles 22:11 (NIV) "Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as He said you would."

This was fulfilled in 2 Chronicles 7:11-12 (NIV) where the Bible records: "When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices."

Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah also confirms success as an accomplishment of aim or purpose, when Nehemiah in his reply to the opposition of Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Gresham the Arab, said in Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV), "I answered them by saying, The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."

Abraham’s Servant

Abraham's servant prayed that God should grant him success on his journey in Genesis 24:42: and in vs. 45, God brought Rebekah as an answer to his prayer.

Genesis 24:12 (NIV) - "Then he prayed, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham."

Conclusion on what does the Bible say about success

You will agree that the scriptures above reveal what success is supposed to be, not what people attributed it to be.

• Success is not having a lot of money, but successful people may have money.
• Success is not fame, but successful people may be famous for their success.
• Success is not riches, but those who are successful have means.

We can agree that success is an accomplishment of aim or purpose and a successful man is a person that has achieved a desired aim or purpose in life.

Therefore, as Christians, we need to examine these facts in light of what we may have believed. Also, pray to God to give us success in our mandate or destiny on earth.

Bible verses about success in Business

Psalm 127:1 (NIV) - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain."

1 Timothy 5:18 (NIV) - "For Scripture says, Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,and The worker deserves his wages."

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) - "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV) - "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Proverbs 22:29 (AMPC) - "Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men."

Luke 16:10 (NLT) - "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV) - "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth."

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) - "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) - "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..."

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) - "Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."

Bible verses about Education success

Proverbs 24:5 - "A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might."

Philippians 3:13-14 - "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Proverbs 18:15 - "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."

Luke 6:40 - "The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."

Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

1 Corinthians 12:8 - "For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit."

Proverbs 15:14 - "The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly."

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

See also:

• Scriptures For Encouragement During Hard Times
• Scriptures For College Students
• Inspirational Quotes For Difficult Times