I recently read the, “25 Biblical Laws of Success” by William Douglas and Rubens Teixeira.
To be honest, I usually avoid these types of books because “success” books from scripture often horribly misuse the bible to meet the modern day expectations of business and life. But I was challenged on this approach, and I will be honest, I loved this book.
While it is not completely free of the aforementioned trappings, it does a good job of looking at the biblical principals of work and effort (there are many) and appropriates them well. I was specifically struck by the simplicity and practicality of one well-known passage.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Douglas and Teixeira make these observations about how we approach work, life, and serving God. To accomplish that which we are called to…
Run like a winner (“in such a way to get the prize”)
Make sacrifices (go into “strict training”)
Have faith and trust (“not running aimlessly”)
Behave in an intelligent and objective way (“not fight like a boxer beating the air”)
Take charge of yourself and have self-control (“strike a blow to my body and make it my slave”).
They go on to say:
“Learning to control your mind, your body, and your time is to be in control of yourself. Those who don’t control themselves first are in no condition to control anything else.” (108, “25 Biblical Laws of Success).
How true are these principals? They are true in our service to Jesus and gifted through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). They are true in athletic training. They are true in marriage, parenting, and the workplace.
Our goal in these things? Trust our security and power in Jesus as we seek to honor Him in all things. If you get a chance, check out the “25 Laws”, and let me know what you think.
Gordon Duncan
Gospel Rich Books
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