Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. 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 passage of scripture outlines for us the principles and laws that are essential to successful godly living, not according to the standards of the secular world, but by the estimates of heaven, for there is a world of difference between the two. According to the standards of this world, success is generally measured by physical, intellectual, and financial accomplishments, and also by discoveries that are made in the various sciences that contribute to the well-being of humanity. These achievements are good, but without the end result of eternal life, they pale into insignificance, for the Bible asks the all-important question, "What shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul"
On the other hand, godly success is measured by the deep and personal relationship we can experience with God, and by the way in which we conform ourselves to His revealed will, in applying the eternal laws and principles of His kingdom in practical ways, across the entire spectrum of our experience. When this is accomplished by the grace of God, then the result is not only success in the here and now, but ultimately eternal life, which God grants to us through Christ.
All of the main aspects of our existence are addressed in the Bible, and instructions on how to successfully navigate each area is also given, so that if practical obedience to the laws and methods outlined are routinely and diligently followed, then the result will be success in each area, except in certain circumstances where a person might have been incapacitated for some reason, so that application is made impossible. In the area of health, God has also given us pertinent instructions, so that we can enjoy a high quality of physical soundness, if we were to faithfully follow the instructions given in the scriptures. Here are just a few of them, because of the limitations of time and space. Let's read:
Judges 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.
Leviticus 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
1st Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
And we can go on and on, however, success in the area of health is generally to be found in the diligent application of these and other principles and instructions found in God's word, which show us that our bodies should be adequately cared for, especially because we are the purchased possession of Christ. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
In our day we often pride ourselves on our independence, and because of the tendency to live outside of the boundaries of God's laws, we often suffer ill health and debilitating diseases which could otherwise have been avoided, and so the success God intended for us escapes our grasp like an illusive dream. The Ebola virus has now penetrated new frontiers, after a woman in Africa had butchered a wild animal, given to her by her husband to prepare for consumption. Not only did she die, but everyone who came in contact with her, and cared for her have also passed, and there is no way of knowing to what extent this new out break has already spread.
The instructions given in God's word are not to be looked upon as being too restrictive, for they were never given with the intention of curbing our liberties, but were rather written so that we could enjoy successful living, both now and in the great hereafter. Wherever we have come up short in any area of our lives, God's desire for us is that we make an immediate u-turn so that the principles of His kingdom can be of benefit to us. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which brings to light God's will for each of us, and if by His grace we were to follow on to know Him, success will attend our way, now and for eternity. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever.
May this be our experience both now and forever. "Good night" and God bless!