Do you think that God wants you to be successful in your profession and your everyday life?

Define successful.

quote Unas10: "Define successful."

That is a very good starting point. Years ago I led an adult class through the study of a book "Your Work Matters to God". The book is still available on Amazon. What follows here are my notes from one class session. My perspective is that of an evangelical Christian who rejects the "health & wealth gospel".

Biblical Success & Ambition:

My definition of success will determine what I do with my money, time, and talents. Another way of thinking about success is to determine what you think about significance.

A secular view of success might be distilled to the following:
1. more money
2. getting ahead of others (i.e. comparing yourself to others)

God's view of success can be seen in Matthew 25:14-30 (among others). The master entrusted money to his slaves to invest. He was looking for faithfulness. Faithful slaves were rewarded equally. Success is, therefore, pleasing Christ with the resources and in the responsibilities that have been given to me. Some questions for self evaluation are:
1. How well do I live out my responsibilities as a husband or wife, as a parent, as a boss, as an employee, etc?
2. Am I faithful to God?
3. Do I have concern for others?

Secular success as defined above should not be a major goal. The things mentioned just previously should be major pursuits.

Personally, I have always striven for excellence in my work and profession.

Very good answer, Ausable. As you said, it depends upon your definition of success. I try to remember that I'm not doing my job for my employer, I'm not doing it for myself, I'm doing it for him.

I think He does want us to be successful as long as what we are doing is according to His will. Of course the Lord does allow for trials and set backs in our life as well. (1 Pet 1:6 & 7)

quote PlumberDave: "Do you think that God wants you to be successful in your profession and your everyday life?"

Yes I do
Proverbs 11:24-25
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.

The lord wants you to be successful, how you use that success will define you.

Good stuff. Success to us in this fallen world (even as Christians) is often times different then the ultimate end game. Yes the Lord wants us to do whatever we do the best we can-- but in the end-- "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" MAT 16:26.

I guess I would rather suck in life and be persecuted and beaten if the same life (with $$ and pride) led me away from the saving Grace of our Lord which is Eternal LIFE. I think Paul had something to say on this.

We (all of us-- including believers) focus so much on the here and now. We really have no comprehension of eternity. Our life on this earth is but a fraction of a sand grain with all the grains of sand in the world * times infinity being what eternity is. It's like dividing by 0.

But yeah-- I think the Lord wants us to be successful has long as that success is used in the correct way. Something I struggle with and likely the reason why I have gone through what I have and continue to do so----

Very good topic.

As mentioned, this is a question that has many levels (i.e. define success). ....

I believe God wants each & everyone of us to spend eternity with him, which will be the ultimate success. So as long as we're living to achieve that 'success', it's immaterial whether we perceive successes in other areas of our lives. As they should automatically fall into place, although often times i don't always realize or identify things I've done as succeses.

I think trials in our lives makes us appreciate the success even more.