- 6 months ago
Do any human beings have to be failures? Is there a true and real way that leads to lasting success? Are there causes for success and failure? Can the world consider you to be a success, yet God consider you a failure? What did the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God consider to be "the first law of success'? Is there a purpose of life? What did Jesus say that Christians should seek first, focus on? Do you have the right goal? What about wisdom? What about earning a livelihood? Can one become a success even if one is old? What about Harland Sanders? Do you know why God created anything? Do you know why God made you? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters and more.
A written article of related interest is available titled 'Right goal for success' URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/doctrine/right-goal-for-success/
A written article of related interest is available titled 'Right goal for success' URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/doctrine/right-goal-for-success/
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Greetings, friends. This is Steve Dupuy for the Bible News Prophecy Program with Dr. Bob Thiel,
00:09bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.
00:14Dr. Thiel, throughout history, people have always striven to be successful. Most often,
00:20this success has some aspect of money associated with it. And although it would seem that money
00:26is certainly tied to success, is money all there is to it? Talk to us today about true success.
00:34Well, we're going to get to money. But last century, the late pastor general of the old
00:39Worldwide Church of God, Herbie W. Armstrong, wrote a booklet called The Seven Laws of Success.
00:43And I'd like to read a few things that he put in there. He says, why are only the very few,
00:49women as well as men, successful in life? And just what is success? Here's a surprising answer to
00:55life's most difficult problem, proving no human needs to ever become a failure. All who have
01:00succeeded have followed seven laws of success. The only way to success is not a copyrighted formula
01:07being sold. You can't buy it for any price. He says, consider the fact there could be a reason
01:12so many people make a failure of life. Not only men and career women, but also wives and mothers, too.
01:19Now, are you wrestling with the problem of making ends meet? Nearly all of us are. That doesn't mean
01:25failure, but it can lead to it. It's a fact, according to him, that the vast majority do
01:30wind up as failures. Yet no one needs to fail. You know, one problem we've got in the world is that
01:37suicides, he says, outnumber murders. And you know that's only an extreme. The overwhelming majority
01:49of people live their lives is failures. And he commented that, you know, much of the world's
01:55current prosperity, yet scores of millions daily allow for the creeping cancer of failure to chain
02:02them into a life of unhappy circumstances from which only death promises release.
02:09It would seem both success and failure would be equally distributed throughout society.
02:14Why is failure so commonplace and success so elusive?
02:21Well, there's definite causes. You know, people act like life is random,
02:25but it's not because you really can't be successful. You know, a wise person will consider life in
02:31setting proper goals for their life. Of course, you know, some people want a lot of money. Some
02:36people want to be Olympic athletes, etc. Now, regarding money, in 1st Timothy chapter 6,
02:42starting in verse 6, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write,
02:47Now, godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it's
02:53certain we can carry nothing out. Having food and clothing, with these we should be content.
02:59But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts,
03:05which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
03:11from which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through
03:17many sorrows. Is this verse telling us that the desire for wealth, as the sole determining factor
03:24for success, is the path to failure? In various ways, certainly it is. You know, money's not going
03:31to help you in the next life, and it could definitely be a hindrance to you in this one. Now, I mentioned
03:36about being an athlete. Now, in 1st Corinthians chapter 9, starting in verse 24, the Apostle Paul
03:42was inspired to write, Do you not know that those who run a race all run, but only one receives a
03:48prize? Run in such a way that you may attain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate
03:54in all things. Now, they, that's talking about other athletes, they do it for a perishable crown,
03:59but we, for an imperishable crown. You know, physical goals and accomplishments are temporary.
04:06Now, back to Herbert Armstrong's book, he wrote the first law. Certainly nothing is in life is more
04:13important than to know what real success is and how to attain it. So he said, what's the first law of
04:18success? He says, you know, he says, I'm not considering general principles here, such as honesty,
04:25patience, loyalty, courtesy, dependability, punctuality, etc. But the reality is, even some
04:33who are honest, haven't practiced various laws of success specifically. You know, but you could be
04:39loyal, patient, courteous, and still be unsuccessful because you're not following the way that leads to
04:45success. So he says, what's the first law of success? Fix the right goal. Not just any goal.
04:55Most successful men he knew, he said, had, hey, had goals. They drove themselves for the
05:00accomplishment. But making money, gaining status, enjoying the pleasures of the five senses, etc.,
05:06basically leads to a history of fears, worries, heartaches, troubled consciences, sorrows, and death.
05:14Now, some people have had certain types of success and enjoyed things, but you really want to go for
05:20true success. The right goal is what we need to have. And we need to define success. You know,
05:27most people says go through life without any goal. And you need to have a goal. Most people don't even
05:34think about having a purpose of life. They're not going anywhere in particular. So, for example,
05:40if you saved up money for a trip to Europe or Asia or something, you might be excited. You plan it.
05:47You have a destination. That's your goal. Okay? But if you didn't plan for it, how do you expect
05:54you're going to get there? He says, most people have no aim. They're merely victims of circumstance.
06:01They haven't planned purposely to be in their job or occupation. They don't live where they do by choice
06:07because they plant it that way. They've just been kind of moved around affected by circumstances.
06:13They've allowed themselves to drift. They made no effort to become the master in control of
06:19circumstances. He says, the first law of success is to fix the right goal. Not any goal. The right goal
06:27will arouse ambition. Ambition is more than desire. It's desire plus incentive, determination to obtain
06:35that. There should be an overpowering purpose of life. If you've ever known the purpose. People
06:41going throughout centuries, they didn't know it. You had people like Socrates and Plato and
06:47Augustine, and they had various ideas, but they didn't know what it was.
06:52And if you know what the purpose is, then you can set that as a goal.
06:56You know, what is there to live for? So he says, I repeat, the first law of real success is to have
07:03the right goal. Men I've described and rated eminently successful in the world all had goals,
07:10but they're failing to have the right goal. So their success was fleeting.
07:14The right goal, the first law of success, and the imperishable crown Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians,
07:22all seemed to be directed to the purpose we were put here on earth. Give us some direction to that
07:30purpose. Well, God's purpose for you is to become the best you can be so you can give love in a unique
07:37way to make eternity better for yourself and everyone else. We have a free ebook on that.
07:44It's available at ccog.org, Mysteries of God's Plan. Why did God create anything? Why did God make you?
07:50Now, that said, Jesus himself pointed to the Christians need to have the right goal.
07:56In Matthew chapter six, starting verse 31, he says, look, don't worry about what you eat, drink,
08:02etc. Others worry about that. But God knows you need these. Verse 33. Here's the goal. But seek
08:09first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
08:14Now, Jesus said that his people would pray. And that's one of the ways to seek first the kingdom
08:18of God to start off your day with prayer. Wisdom and understanding, which the Bible also advocates
08:24in Proverbs, are also appropriate goals. Wisdom's important, for example, says in Proverbs chapter
08:31four, starting verse five, get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget nor turn from the
08:38words of my mouth. Do not forsake her and she'll preserve you. Love her and she'll keep you. Wisdom is
08:43the principle thing. Therefore, get wisdom and all you're getting, get understanding.
08:50And this is something that the Bible says you can do. New Testament says, if you lack wisdom, ask God.
08:56That's something you should have. You know, it says in Ecclesiastes 10, 10, wisdom brings success.
09:02Now, Christians should work, by the way, and get their priorities in order. I want to read something
09:08else from Proverbs. Proverbs 24, verse 27. Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the
09:16field, and afterward, build your house. Now, in the New Testament, we're also encouraged to do physical
09:22work. For example, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 3, starting verse 10. He says, I was with you,
09:28I commanded you, I commanded you, if you won't work, you shouldn't eat. He says, some of you are busy
09:32bodies. We command you and exhort you through our Lord Jesus Christ to work and eat your own bread.
09:39And not only is it supposed to work for yourself, but it says in 1 Timothy 5, 8, if you don't provide
09:45for your household, you've denied the faith and you're worse than an unbeliever. So having a goal to
09:52make a proper livelihood certainly is biblical. Now, you might think at your age, it's too late.
09:57And you could be wrong. I like to tell the story of Harlan Sanders, Kentucky Fried Chicken guy.
10:04After he retired, he didn't know what to do. He failed at a bunch of businesses,
10:08but he kept going and ended up having the most famous face on earth by the time he died.
10:15Anyway, don't limit God because of your age or your education or whatever.
10:19You know, it says in Isaiah 59, starting in verse one,
10:26Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor is ear heavy that it cannot hear.
10:34That's good advice. I am seeking first the kingdom of God. I'm praying for wisdom and understanding,
10:41and I'm probably the same age or a little older than Colonel Sanders, and I'm still working. What's next?
10:49Well, realize that Apostle Paul was inspired to write in Philippians chapter 4, verse 13.
10:55I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That doesn't just apply to Paul, but to you as well.
11:02You know, maybe you'll be one who'll be supporting the work of God in an outwardly obvious way,
11:09or perhaps in ways no one sees. Yet, remember, Paul also is inspired to write in Hebrews chapter 6, starting in verse 10.
11:19For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you've shown toward his name,
11:25and that you've ministered to the saints and do minister.
11:27And we desire that each of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.
11:34That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherited the promises.
11:42And as far as being used when you're older, Moses didn't begin to lead Israel until he was 80.
11:48Okay. I'm not as old as Moses.
11:51But are these verses saying, and is what you are suggesting,
11:56is that to aid in obtaining that imperishable crown, I should support the work of God?
12:04Yes. And as far as going back to aging, and by the way, these laws of success apply to young people.
12:11As far as aging goes, in Luke chapter 2, we've got this example starting in verse 36.
12:16So there's this one, Anna. She was a prophetess.
12:19All right. She was the tribe of Asher.
12:22She was of great age.
12:24And she was a widow of about 84 years who did not depart from the temple,
12:29but she served God with fastings and prayer night and day.
12:33And coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke to him,
12:38to all those who look for the redemption in Jerusalem.
12:42Now, I want to comment, this doesn't say that Anna was able to see Jesus,
12:46which she was, by the way, because she was a prophetess.
12:49No, but because she was serving God with prayer and fasting.
12:53And there's another example.
12:55Mark chapter 12, starting verse 41.
12:59Jesus was in the treasury, saw how much money people were throwing in.
13:02Some of the rich put in a lot.
13:04This poor woman comes by.
13:06She throws in two mites, which is hardly not anything.
13:09And he calls his disciples and says to them,
13:11Assuredly, I say to this, poor widows put in more than all who gave the treasury.
13:16They put all under their abundance, but cheap or poverty, without what she had.
13:21So anyway, yeah, you should seek God's kingdom.
13:24It should be your goal and you'll succeed.
13:26Whether you're rich or poor, young or old.
13:28Setting the right goal or goals is important.
13:30Otherwise, what you do is just vanity, according to the book of Ecclesiastes.
13:36Anyway, as I mentioned before, you might wonder, why did God create anything?
13:42Well, the answer is God created what he did, so eternity would be better.
13:45Why did God create you?
13:46The answer is God created you, so you could, once you've truly accepted him and are resurrected,
13:54you'll be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for yourself and everyone else.
13:58Since eternal life with God will be fantastic beyond human understanding,
14:02remember to seek first the kingdom of God.
14:05While you can have physical goals, like education, career, or spouse, don't neglect the right goal.
14:11Anyway, we've got a free book, Mystery of God's Plan.
14:14You want to be an eternal success? Choose the right goal.
14:19To be able to give love in a totally unique way in the resurrection of the saints
14:24would certainly be the pinnacle of success.
14:28Thank you, Dr. Thiel.
14:30For more interviews with Dr. Thiel, in addition to written as well as audio articles,
14:35visit our website at BibleNewsProphecy.net.
14:38This is Steve Dupuis for the Bible News Prophecy Program.