Do you want to have a successful life?

I'm not talking about what the world considers success. Money, fame, good looks, talent, lots of possessions, vacations in the Mediterranean...etc. Are the people that have these things really happy? In truth these things may bring a momentary euphoria, but they do not fulfill us. We were not created for "things" or to worship ourselves. What then fulfills us? Look back to the Garden of Eden before the fall. What was man created for?

To worship God and have fellowship with Him.

To take care of and rule over the earth.

You know what? These two ingredients for success haven't changed. We will only find fulfillment in this life if we have a deep abiding relationship with God and if we work at the tasks He assigns us to do.

In fact, God's formula for success is laid out plainly for us in 1 Peter 1: 3-8

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

So, God has given (past tense) us everything we need for this life. How? Through our knowledge or relationship with Him

Through these (His glory and goodness) he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

How do we participate in the divine nature? (Through God's promises--we store them in our heart and believe them!)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

More keys to success (I believe these are steps of growth for the Christian and build off of each other as we spend more time with God)

Faith

Goodness

Knowledge

Self-control

Perserveance

Godliness

Kindness

Love

Compare with The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

And the Grand finale!

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ineffective and unproductive are the opposite of sucess of fulfillment. Isnt' it cool that in this one scripture, God has given us a formula for success in this life.

I dare you to follow this perscription. I dare you. And wait and see what God will do. I guarantee you will experience things other people only dream about and achieve fulfillment in this world beyond all your expectations!