Lessons from the Bible on Success

Mr. Shoaff taught me that the Bible was a good book

for ideas and stories and success equations,

how to live the better life.

I found out that was true.

If you look at your bank account and your income and you're not happy,

there's

several places in the Bible to check to see what the heck's wrong so you can

make the changes.

He also taught me that the Bible is as practical as it is spiritual,

and I found

out that's true.

He said, "Jim, if you wanna be wealthy and happy the rest of your life, just

learn this lesson well." Basic

laws.

And I call these basics primarily because they come from the Bible.

Now, here's two of the basic laws.

Shoaff taught me these.

The first one is the law of use.

The law of use,

and it goes something like this; whatever you don't use, you

lose.

Lack of use causes loss.

If you don't use today, what?

Lost.

It's lost. The guy says, "Well, I'll work twice as hard tomorrow to make

up for

it." See, that's foolish. You could've done that anyway.

Today unused is lost. A talent unused is lost.

An ability unused is lost.

It's a law.

If you tie your arm to your body, leave it there long enough,

you'll never use it

again.

It's over.

The only way to keep the use of this arm is what?

Keep using it. If you quit, you lose

automatically.

They don't bring it up for a vote.

You lose automatically when you quit.

Ambition unused declines.

It's a law.

Vitality unused diminishes. Energy unused

decreases.

The guy says, "Well, I'm gonna save up my energy." You can't do

that.

Strong feelings unused diminish.

It doesn't grow; it diminishes. Faith

unused decreases.

In ancient stories, it says there was a master with three servants.

He got them together one day and he said to the three, "Take these

talents and see what you can do with them while I'm gone." He said, "I'm taking a

journey and I'll be gone for a while.

When I come back, we'll get together, go over the books, see how you did."

And in those ancient days, a talent was a measure of gold.

He said, "Here's five of these talents for you.

Here's two of them for you,

and here's one for you."

The master said, "Take those talents, see what you can do with them.

When I come back, we'll get together and we'll go over it all."

The servants said, "Okay." Master takes off.

According to the ancient story, the master comes back from his trip.

When he gets back, he gets the three servants together,

and as he said he would, he asks, "Your-