The Secret to Success – God’s Way
Updated: Feb 6, 2021
I want to win the lottery. I’ll admit it, I want to win it because I know the road it takes to actually get to that amount of money, and it’s hard! I’d rather take a ‘get rich quick’ pill and be there already.
Many times I’ve chased the fantasy of a certain business opportunity being ‘the one’ that will finally get me to the $1 Million club.
After all, I deserve it! I love God, I follow his commands, I give to my church, I’ve discovered my purpose, I’m in my calling – isn’t it MY time?
As I grow deeper in my faith with God, I’m reminded about the concept of success, and how I try to avoid His definition versus my definition.
See, my definition of success is money in the bank. That’s how we’re judged in the world – the wealth we’ve accumulated. My assets, the land I own, the equity in my business, my last product launch numbers, these are all measures I’m judging myself by.
And while profits do matter and are the lifeblood of the business, to focus solely on them will make us miserable. Why? Because they are constantly changing, it can be taken away in a heartbeat, and I’ll never have enough of it to actually feel successful because there will always be more and someone else will always have more.
So what is God’s definition of success?
Here it is: Success God’s way is not judging each day by the amount of money I make, but by the seeds I plant.
When I’m trying to launch new businesses and chase new ideas, I find myself neglecting the basics in my business that give me the most joy and ultimately leads to more referrals and successful case studies.
I neglect to the prospect
I neglect following up with past clients
I neglect blogging to my target audience
I neglect building deeper relationships with my past clients
I neglect pouring into my current employees
I neglect solidifying my current operations
It’s all of these things I neglect when I’m chasing the dream of being a millionaire with a new venture.
The Bible says:
"A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty". Proverbs 28:19 NLT
Poverty…that's how I’ve felt (and been) at times in my struggles to desire more riches.
God has taught me many times that success in entrepreneurship does not happen overnight. It is the result of faithfulness in little things over a lifetime. The small unnoticed things I do in business will add up to great achievement and a crescendo of success—if I am persistent. I can build my business life on a consistent body of small achievements, not just a single giant successful venture.
Of course, I get bummed when a product launch fails, when I don’t sell out an event, or when revenue for the month dips below costs, but I must continually focus on my purpose and calling, continuing to obey the commands and decrees of providing value and service to others.
Here’s another word of wisdom:
"For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy". Deuteronomy 30:16 NLT
I take this as God saying that there’s a lot of little things I need you to follow and do so that I can open up the heavens and pour down blessings on you.
The two biggest commands: love God and love others.
There’s nothing there that says love money, love a big business or love fame.
Instead, the Bible teaches us you reap what you sow. Sow generously and I will reap generously. Sow sparingly and I will find myself impoverished when I meet the grim reaper of business.
Godpreneur Rule: Don’t put all your eggs in chasing business fantasies. Sow many acts of value in your business, and you will be amazed at the harvest over time.