SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Part 4

“As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper”
(2 Chronicles 26:5).

Today we continue talking about No. 6 Principle, NEVER GIVE UP SEEKING GOD.

King Uzziah was only 16 years old when he began his reign. He began well. He “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD . . . And he sought God in the days of Zechariah . . . and as long as he sought the LORD, God made Him to prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:4, 5).

This is the secret to prosperity, to seek the Lord. Because  he sought the Lord ”God helped him” (v 7). Verse 15 tells us that “his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.”

And now we have another “but”! 2 Chronicles 26:16 tell us: “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction.” Remember how King Asa became complacent and forgot to seek God, determining his ruin? God marvelously helped Uzziah to become strong, but when he became powerful, he became proud and it led to his destruction.

What happened? Although he was king, he was forbidden  to do the work of the priests. But he thought he was beyond the law and went into the Holy Place in the temple to burn incense upon the golden altar of incense.

The priests of the Lord were aghast! Azariah the high priest went running in after him, plus 80 other priests of the Lord, all brave and valiant men. Can you imagine it? Eighty-one priests confronting King Uzziah!

“Get out of the sanctuary,” they yelled. “Only the priests who have descended from Aaron have been consecrated to do this sacred task.”

In his pride, Uzziah became furious, but as he held the censor in his hand, suddenly leprosy rose up in his forehead. They immediately thrust him out and was a leper for the rest of his life. He had to live in a separate house and his son Jotham governed in his stead. You can read his whole story in 2 Chronicles, chapter 26.

We dare not ever give up seeking God.

Do you want your children to be successful? Teach them to get into the habit of seeking God each day and to never stop seeking God and relying wholly on Him for the rest of their lives.

7. WORK FOR THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

We see this principle also in the life of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 31:21 says: “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”

What service of the Lord are you involved in? If God has blessed you with children, your service to Him is to mother and train your children. Therefore, embrace this high calling and do it with all your heart—even the homely duties of each day that may seem insignificant.

God wants us to not only work with our hands but work with our soul. The Williams translation of Colossians 3;23 says: “Whatever you may do, work WHOLESOULEDLY for the Lord and not for men, for you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your remuneration; you are working for your Master Christ.” I’ve never read the word “wholesouledly” before, but I like it, don’t you?

The Fenton translation says: “Working from your soul.”

AMP: “Work from the soul.”

NET: “Whatever you’re doing, work at it with enthusiasm.”

HCSB: “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically.”

TPT: “Put Your heart and soul into every activity you do.”

Teach this principle to your children. Teach them how to do their chores, not only with  their hands but with their souls. Train them to work hard with a happy attitude. Don’t give up on this training for it is the secret to their future success. If they do not learn to work with all their hearts when they are young, they will not be in the habit when they are older and will be deprived of much success.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, You are showing me clearly from Your Word that I dare not forget to seek You. Please save me from ever getting out of this habit. I do not want to become complacent or proud, but wholly rely upon You. Amen,”

AFFIRMATION:

We Are a wholesouled family, seeking the Lord wholesouledly and working for the Lord wholesouledly.