Success

Success is prosperity or the accomplishment of one's work, which comes from God's blessing, obedience to his word and diligence. Jesus warned against gaining the world while losing one's soul.

Success comes from God

• Deuteronomy 8:18
  But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 8 →
• Psalm 127:1
  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.
  Show context · Read Psalm 127 →
• Genesis 39:2-3
  ²And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. ³And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did,
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• Genesis 39:23
  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
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• 2 Chronicles 26:5
  And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
  Show context · Read 2 Chronicles 26 →

Obedience and prosperity

• Joshua 1:8
  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
  Show context · Read Joshua 1 →
• Psalm 1:2-3
  ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
  Show context · Read Psalm 1 →

Committing plans to God

• Proverbs 16:3
  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
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• Psalm 37:4-5
  ⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
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• James 4:13-15
  ¹³Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” ¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
  Show context · Read James 4 →

Diligence

• Proverbs 10:4
  He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
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• Proverbs 21:5
  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 21 →
• Proverbs 22:29
  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 22 →
• Colossians 3:23
  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →

What true gain is

• Mark 8:36
  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
  Show context · Read Mark 8 →
• Jeremiah 9:23-24
  ²³Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. ²⁴But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 9 →
• Luke 12:15-21
  ¹⁵And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” ¹⁶And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ ²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
  Show context · Read Luke 12 →

See also

• Work
• Money
• Pride
• Purpose
• Failure

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.