“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:6-9.
Success and prosperity in life are two goals that most people have. People stay in high school and attend college so they can be successful individuals, who make a lot of money when they graduate. Nothing is wrong with those goals. In fact, God desires for everyone to do the best they can in what they do (Ecclesiastes 9:10). However, true success is not found in the job you have or the money you make. God desired for His people in the Old Testament to be successful just as He desires the same for us today. In Joshua 1:6-9, God gives a recipe for true success in life. First, God tells the people Israel to BE STRONG. This is still necessary for us today. God is not referring to going to the weight room or gym and building up muscles. Rather, he is encouraging us to be strong in our faith. Ephesians 6:10 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” If we continually work on building our faith it leads to a successful life. Second, He encourages them to BE COURAGEOUS. This is another quality that must be found in the people of God today. We have a message to preach in words and in action that often times forces us against the grain. It takes courage to talk to people about Christ. It takes courage to stand up against your friends and family when they are doing something against God’s will. However, if you will be courageous, God will help you win the battle and be successful (Jeremiah 1:8). Finally. God told the Israelites to BE FAITHFUL. Notice the end of verse 7. In speaking of Moses’ Law, He says, “…turn not from it to the right hand or to the left…” The same is true for us today. We must not fail to obey the word of God in all we do. The world pulls us in many directions and seeks to separate us from God, but we must not allow it to happen. God promised the Israelites they would have several things when they were strong, courageous, and faithful. Throughout verses 6—9 God promises, “you will divide for an inheritance the land… prosper wherever you go… and then you shall have good success”. The same promise still applies to His people in the church. If we will be strong in Him, courageous in saying and doing what is right, and faithful to His Word we will also receive the land promised us (1 Peter 1:4), prosper in life (Matthew 6:33), and have true success in life (2 Timothy 4:8).