Joshua 1:8

The Principles of Success

Success is usually the result of following sound principles consistently over time. Scripture gives us practical instruction concerning faith, wisdom, diligence, discipline, preparation, learning, decision-making, and action. When those principles become part of the way we think and live, they influence the results we produce.

Joshua 1:8 gives one of the clearest biblical descriptions of this process. God told Joshua to meditate in His Word day and night, “observe to do according to all that is written in it,” and then said, “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua was given a clear process. He was to think about God’s Word, understand it, obey it, and act upon it consistently.

The Passion Translation says, “Recite my words day and night. You must continually meditate on my every word and make sure you do everything it says” (Joshua 1:8 TPT). Success in Joshua’s assignment required more than knowing what God had said. He had to organize his thoughts and actions around those instructions.

Psalm 1 describes a similar way of living. The person who refuses ungodly counsel and meditates in God’s Word day and night is described as someone who produces fruit and prospers in what he does. His results are connected to an established pattern of thinking and behavior.

The Message says that this person thrills to God’s Word and “chews on Scripture day and night” (Psalm 1:2 MSG). Regular attention to God’s Word influences our decisions, attitudes, priorities, and conduct.

This principle appears throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 28:1–2 connects diligent obedience with corresponding blessings. Galatians 6:7 says, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” What we repeatedly put into practice eventually contributes to what we experience.

Some results take time.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” A good principle may not produce its complete result immediately. There are times when we must continue doing what is right, productive, and wise before the full benefit becomes visible.

Diligence is one of those principles.

Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty.” The New Living Translation says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT). Planning helps establish direction, while diligence keeps us acting on the plan.

Proverbs 10:4 says, “The hand of the diligent makes rich,” and Proverbs 13:4 says, “The soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” These verses establish a consistent biblical connection between disciplined effort and productive results.

Proverbs 14:23 says, “In all labor there is profit.” Ideas, intentions, and goals need corresponding action. A person can know what should be done, plan what should be done, and talk about what should be done, yet still make little progress if he does not act.

Skill also affects results.

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings.” The Message says, “Observe people who are good at their work. Skilled workers are always in demand and admired” (Proverbs 22:29 MSG).

Developing skill requires learning, practice, correction, and preparation. A person who becomes more capable at what he does is often better prepared when opportunities arise. Excellence is developed by giving serious attention to the quality of our work.

Wisdom is equally important.

Proverbs 24:3–4 says that something is built through wisdom, established through understanding, and filled through knowledge. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” Success requires learning how to make better decisions and understanding the principles that govern the area in which we are working.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “Wisdom brings success.” Wisdom makes effort more effective because it helps us understand what to do, when to do it, and how to do it properly.

We should therefore remain teachable.

Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” The New Living Translation says, “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life” (Proverbs 19:20 NLT).

Proverbs 15:22 adds, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Wise counsel can expose something we have missed, challenge weak thinking, improve a plan, or help us avoid an unnecessary mistake.

Successful people should not be viewed only as people to admire. They can also be people from whom we learn.

Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise.” Hebrews 6:12 tells us to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” The Amplified Classic speaks of following those who receive the promises through faith and the “practice of patient endurance” (Hebrews 6:12 AMPC).

Hebrews 13:7 says to consider “the outcome of their conduct” and imitate their faith. Scripture gives us permission to examine good results and learn from the attitudes, faith, discipline, and behavior that helped produce them.

Paul taught this directly. Philippians 4:9 says, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do.” He expected people to put into practice what they had learned from both his teaching and his example.

Application is essential.

James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” The Message puts it very directly: “Act on what you hear!” (James 1:22 MSG).

Knowing a principle does not produce the same result as practicing it. A person may understand the importance of discipline and remain undisciplined. He may understand planning and never plan. He may value wisdom and refuse advice. He may believe in preparation while continuing to approach important responsibilities unprepared.

Biblical faith also includes corresponding action.

James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Verse 22 explains that Abraham’s faith was “working together with his works.” What he believed affected what he did.

The Amplified Classic says that Abraham’s faith “was cooperating with his works” (James 2:22 AMPC). His actions gave practical expression to his faith.

Jesus repeatedly taught the same principle.

In Luke 6, He described the person who comes to Him, hears His sayings, and does them as someone who built properly and established a strong foundation. Matthew 7:24 says, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.”

Jesus connected wisdom with doing.

Hearing instruction gives us knowledge. Applying instruction changes behavior. Repeated application establishes a way of living.

Discipline helps us maintain that consistency. Proverbs 4:25–27 tells us to look straight ahead, carefully consider where we are going, and refuse unnecessary deviation. Progress requires the ability to stay focused on what we have decided is important.

Paul used athletic competition to explain disciplined living. First Corinthians 9:25 says, “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.” Self-control helps a person continue doing what contributes to his goal even when he does not feel like doing it.

Second Timothy 2:5 says that an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. Every area of life has principles that affect results. Ignoring those principles usually has consequences.

This applies to spiritual growth, leadership, finances, relationships, health, business, ministry, education, and personal development. We need to understand what produces healthy results in the area we are pursuing and then practice those principles consistently.

Faith also keeps our work submitted to God.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.” The Amplified Classic says, “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him]” (Proverbs 16:3 AMPC).

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust the Lord, refuse dependence upon our own understanding, acknowledge Him in all our ways, and allow Him to direct our paths. Practical wisdom and spiritual dependence belong together.

The Passion Translation says, “Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go” (Proverbs 3:6 TPT).

A biblical approach to success begins with God’s direction and continues through obedience, wisdom, learning, diligence, preparation, discipline, faith, and action.

Practical Steps for Applying Success Principles

Understanding these principles gives us a starting point. The next responsibility is to put them into practice in specific areas of life. Consider the following steps:

1. Identify the result you are pursuing. Be clear about what you are trying to accomplish. Vague intentions make disciplined action difficult. Define the spiritual, personal, ministry, financial, professional, or relational area in which you want to make progress.
2. Find the biblical principles that apply. Search Scripture for instruction concerning that area. Ask what God says about your thinking, attitudes, decisions, relationships, habits, preparation, and actions. Make God’s Word the foundation for the way you approach the goal.
3. Examine what you are currently doing. Galatians 6:7 reminds us that what we sow affects what we reap. Look honestly at your present habits and decisions. Identify what is contributing to progress and what may be working against the result you desire.
4. Seek wisdom from people who have good results. Find people who demonstrate wisdom, character, experience, and proven ability in the area you are developing. Ask questions. Observe how they work. Learn from their decisions and their mistakes. “He who walks with wise men will be wise” (Proverbs 13:20).
5. Develop a practical plan. Decide what actions need to be taken and when you will take them. Break larger goals into specific responsibilities you can act upon consistently. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty” (Proverbs 21:5).
6. Develop the skills the assignment requires. Determine where you need greater knowledge, training, or practice. Read, study, receive instruction, and work on weak areas. Excellence usually develops through repeated effort rather than occasional effort.
7. Act consistently. Do not wait until you feel completely prepared or motivated. Begin doing what you already know to do. James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Consistent action allows sound principles to begin producing results.
8. Review your progress and make adjustments. Pay attention to the results your actions are producing. Continue what is working. Correct what is not. Seek additional wisdom when necessary. Stay teachable and willing to change your approach without abandoning sound biblical principles.
9. Continue when results take time. Some results develop gradually. Do not abandon a right principle simply because the full result has not appeared immediately. Galatians 6:9 says that “in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
10. Keep your plans submitted to God. Pray about your decisions and remain willing for God to correct your direction. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Success should never become more important than faithfully following God.

There is no need to continually search for a hidden method that will suddenly produce every desired result. Scripture has already given us principles that can be understood and practiced.

Meditate on God’s Word. Apply what you learn. Seek wisdom. Listen to good counsel. Develop your abilities. Plan carefully. Work diligently. Exercise discipline. Continue doing what is right even when results take time.

Success develops as sound principles become consistent practices.