M-G: 5.27.11 // Be Significant, Joshua 1:8, KJV

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If you asked a dozen people today what is the meaning of “success,”  you might get 12 different answers. Living in an age of relativity we would expect that success would be considered relative. Though success may be viewed differently, generally speaking, people’s ideas of success today usually embrace one, if not all, of these elements to some degree: academic achievement, accumulation of wealth and possessions, and position of influence. 

In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with those ambitions provided it doesn’t move us away from God’s will for our lives. These symbols of success are nothing new; for even in Jeremiah’s day (7th-century B.C.), we see this same desire for the triad of things today being addressed by the LORD way back then (Jer 9:23-24).    

We shouldn’t read into the Joshua passage as a mere duty to the Law of God – “shall not depart … shall meditate … may observe.” Nor should we interpret this as pertaining exclusively to Israel under the dispensation of the Law of Moses (cf. Rom 15:4). Indeed, it was the formula for success in conquering the Promised Land, but it was meant to be more than that; it was to be a way of life not only to the children of Israel but for all of God’s people - the Law of the LORD is to be on our tongue and on our heart that we may observe to do all that is written for those who claim Yahweh as Lord.

One of our core beliefs is that the Bible is the absolute authority on all matters of faith and practice.  What Yahweh commanded Joshua is our charge for victorious living in the nasty here and now in order to claim the blessings of God for our life. The Hebrew word sakal makes 63 appearances in the King James Version and is translated only here in Joshua by the English word "success." How insightful were the translators of the KJV to rightly connect our English word success to God’s Word!

What God desired for Joshua was to know and to do His will as directed in the Law of Moses. Knowing and obeying is like a two-sided coin, neither can be separated from the other without destroying its value. For us to be prosperous and successful in the sight of God, they are to be treated as inseparable, or else there is no value -- no prosperity, no success. Many are full of knowing and losing life's battles, but few are into obeying and winning. Joshua needed to know this because success here would be associated with holiness amidst conflict, requiring great courage. The pagan people of Canaan were not going to hand over their land to the children of Israel without a fight. Only knowing and doing the will of God would prevail against the opposing forces.

In today’s world, the symbols of success are tied to education, wealth, and influence. We need this clarification of success as believers living in a world that defines or measures success differently than our God. Things have their place, but knowing and doing God’s will for our lives is the true measure of our success in the eyes of God. Educational, economic, or influential status may gain us recognition by the world, but those things will never give us significance because they are of temporal value. Only those things of eternal value, like knowing and doing God’s will for our lives, yield significance before God Almighty. 

“If any want to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me, because my love is constant, and I do what is just and right. These are the things that please me, I, the LORD have spoken” (Jer 9:24, TEV).

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it [insignificance]; but he who does the will of God abides forever [significance]” (1 Jn 2:17). 

Significance is something the world can never give. Since "the present scheme of things is rapidly passing away" (1 Cor 7:31b, Phillips), wouldn't you rather be significant as a child of God than have all the golden gems that ever in monarchs' coffers shone or on their diadems? 

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand 

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

                            – Rhea F. Miller, 1922  
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