What We Need To Succeed
Brian R. Kenyon

Being successful in anything constructive in the secular world does not just accidentally happen. Not only does being successful in a business or profession take hard work and sacrifice, it also involves other things falling into place, without which success would be impossible. Being successful in the Lord is no different. Not only does it take hard work and sacrifice, but it also involves the right things falling into place. Fortunately for the Christian, those necessary things "falling into place" are provided by the Lord. Let us consider three things that are needed in order to succeed in the sight of the Lord.

The Lord's Word

The success of the Christian begins first with the word of God. Without God's word, no one would ever know how to please the Lord. Thus, Paul requests, "Finally, brethren, pray for us" (2 Thes. 3:1a). Paul was not afraid to ask the prayers of the church (Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:3; 1 Thes. 5:25). Here, the apostle requests that they pray for two things, each of which has to do with the word of God. First, Paul wants prayers so that "the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you" (2 Thes. 3:1b). The word translated "free course [run swiftly, NKJ; spread rapidly, ESV]" literally means to run, but when used metaphorically, as here, it means to "make rapid strides" (same word translated "run" in 1 Cor. 9:24-26). The word of God having "free course" will result in many people pleasing God (cf. Rom. 10:17). The devil knows this. Thus, he wants to snatch the word from our hearts (Lk. 8:12).

Second, Paul wants prayers so that "we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith" (2 Thes. 3:2). The "unreasonable [perverse, NAS]" are those who are hurtful and antagonistic to the Lord and His cause. These are those who will spare no expense in doing all they can to eliminate the truth and those who labor in it (cf. 1 Thes. 2:14-16). Everyone will not accept the Gospel of Christ!

Where the word of God goes unhindered, it will often result in people glorifying the Lord. In order for us to be successful, we must allow God's word to have free reign within us and control our entire being!

The Lord's Faithfulness

The success of the Christian also involves the Lord's faithfulness, which strengthens and protects. To contrast those who "have not faith" (2 Thes. 3:2b), Paul writes, "But the Lord is faithful" (2 Thes. 3:3a). The Lord is the one on whom Christians can rely. "Faithful" carries the idea of trustworthy, reliable, and sure. God is perfect in His trustworthiness; He is completely reliable (1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; Rev. 3:14). His "faithfulness" means that He will "stablish you, and keep you from evil" (2 Thes. 3:3b). "Stablish [strengthen, NAS]" means to make firm, or establish (Rom. 1:11; 1 Thes. 3:2; 2 Thes. 2:17). His faithfulness also protects us from "evil [the evil one, NKJ]" (cf. Mt. 6:13; Jn. 17:15). Paul wrote elsewhere, concerning God's ability to keep us from evil, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13). Note that His deliverance from evil requires our cooperation.

As a result of the Lord's faithfulness, Paul writes to the Thessalonians, "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you" (2 Thes. 3:4). As long as we allow the word of God to have "free course" and "be glorified" (2 Thes. 3:1), we will continue to obey it and thus be successful in the sight of the Lord!

The Lord's Direction

Finally, the success of the Christian in this context depends upon the Lord's direction, which readies us for eternity. Paul concludes this section with a brief prayer, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thes. 3:5). The word translated "direct" first means to "make straight," and then guide (Lk. 1:79), which may even include the removing of obstacles in the path (cf. 1 Thes. 3:11). The requests for which Paul asks the Lord's direction concern love and perseverance. Since the "love of God" in Paul's writings usually refers to God's love for humanity (cf. Rom. 5:5; 8:39; 2 Cor. 13:14; Tit. 3:4), the request here is that the Thessalonians will be guided to appreciate more and more the sacrificial love Christ showed, which will in turn help them to patiently endure. The translation "patient waiting" is actually from one Greek word that means patient endurance, steadfastness, perseverance. This depicts a quality that is necessary to succeed in eternal life (Rom. 2:7; Jas. 1:3-4). No person is more successful than the one who spends eternity with the Lord!

Conclusion

We have everything we need to succeed in the Lord. Yes, success requires our hard work and sacrifice, but there is more to it than that. We must have those things that come from the Lord. His word brings success wherever it is allowed to go and received. The Lord's faithfulness strengthens and protects us. The Lord's direction readies us for eternity. God continues to supply His part. Are we doing our part? May the Lord help us to continually accept His word, trust His faithfulness, and allow His direction in our lives.