Exploring Success Virtues in Kingdom Stewardship by Pst Joseph Ajibade
Achieving success in life requires a determined pursuit. In the Kingdom of God, success is not an ambition but your birthright (Deuteronomy 28:1; Matthew 5:13-16; John 10:10; John 9:4). God is determined to take you from shame to fame. But true success is the reward for accomplished stewardship (Luke 22:24-27). Kingdom stewardship is simply serving God. Serving God’s purpose and promoting man’s well-being on earth will take you to the pinnacle of your career (Matthew 6:33; Joshua 1:8; Revelations 5:4-5, 12).
As far as God is concerned, all the seven-fold blessings in Revelations 5:12 belong to you in redemption. Entering into covenant to serve God will bring you to your realm of all-round breakthrough. In Exodus 4:22-23, Israel cried out and God sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him to let his people go so that they could serve Him. All-round and enduring success is a life-long adventure and not a day’s journey particularly when connected to God. Nobody graduates from the school of success. As long as you keep serving God, He will continue to take you from glory to glory, as the Bible assures us of His divine provision in Psalm 34:10.
Rewards for serving God
- Supernatural Breakthroughs: Serving God is the platform for supernatural breakthroughs (Luke 5:1-8). Breakthroughs happen when you serve the Lord.
Supernatural Breakthroughs that come with Kingdom service include:
- Changes of levels: Luke 19:13-17; Proverbs 4:18.
- Changes in situations and circumstances: 2 Chronicles 15:12-15. Never mistake your present condition for your position in destiny (Romans 10:12; Acts 10:34).
- Change in Status: Jeremiah 30:19
- Supernatural Favour: Serve God and you will experience supernatural favour. Kingdom addiction will give you supernatural favour (Exodus 23:25). With God’s favour, you will enjoy outstanding success. Favour is an act of kindness, a token of love, an evidence of remembrance (Luke 2:40-52).
- You get everything you want (Exodus 4:20-23; Exodus 12:36).
- With favour, the laws of nature are suspended for your benefit (Psalm 114:1; Exodus 16:8, 35).
- Soundness of health. When you are favoured, your body will not scatter. (Deuteronomy 8:4; Proverbs 18:14; Proverbs 13:17).
- Supernatural Abundance (Psalm 105:17-28)
- When you serve God, He makes you a high flyer (Genesis 39:3-5).
- Supernatural wisdom (Proverbs 4:7). Opening up yourself to God’s wisdom improves your life (Ephesians 2:19). We are co-labourers with God in his vineyard, so we must work in His wisdom. Go after souls and bring them to church as God has commanded.
- Glory and honour. When you are wise, you inherit glory (Proverbs 11:30, 3:35). Fasting and prayer will not give you glory and honour but serving the Lord will (Psalm 89:20). David, a servant of God was never ashamed to do anything for God. He experienced God’s goodness everywhere he went. Nobody serves God wholeheartedly and sees shame.
Covenant of Marital Breakthrough
Our God, who is a perfect match-maker, is interested in our marital destiny and for us to be gloriously married. Psalms 68:6 says God sets the solitary in families, so do not allow the world to re-programme your mind because for every male there is a female (Genesis 1:27, 2:18).
The subject of marriage is so critical as it can determine the course of one’s destiny. However, there are several reasons why people delay in getting married and these reasons may differ from gender to gender.
What causes marital delay in Men?
- Spiritual reasons: The wicked one blinds the eyes of some, not letting them see any reason for marriage (Isaiah 25:6-7) and wherever you find a delay or distortion, know that an enemy is behind it, as Matthew 13:39 shows.
- Personal hindrances. These have stopped people from making decisions. Some are not married today because someone hurt them so they carry the pain through life. Jeremiah 8:22 tells us about the balm in Gilead that heals every wound. If you ask all the men that are married today, some have between five to ten injuries from disappointments and rejections but that did not stop them. Some are not married today because they are still in search of the perfect woman. But you must remember that marriage is a union of two raw materials joined together to make a perfect union with God’s help.
Emotional instability too is another cause for delay in men. Some cannot make up their minds when, where and how to propose to who. Today they are sure, tomorrow they are not.
- The challenge of independence: Some are not ready to accept responsibilities. Whereas Ephesians 5:32 says leave your parents and be joined to your wife, some men still want to be with parents and wife. That is why marriage is for men, not boys. A man must settle down, pay bills, know what it means to earn an income and pay for things.
- Lack of capacity: Your work determines your worth. So build up capacity because nobody wants to marry a liability. Remember, you can only give what you have, so build up yourself.
- Environmental hindrances like cost of living, cost of organising weddings, and societal pressures are putting off many men from getting married. This is where faith in God comes in (Psalm 91:2, Isaiah 41:10).
- Fear: Fear, especially of the unknown is a major cause of delay in getting married. Some are afraid of their background and believe that they may not succeed in marriage because of it. Forget your background, holding unto it is why your back is always on the ground. No matter what it is, God says he will do a new thing. That everybody failed in your family does not mean you to must fail. No wonder Isaiah 41:10 tells us not to be afraid, assuring us that there is help for us in God.
Why marital delay in Women?
- Character: Character is who you are when no one is watching. Character deficiencies are hindrances for women when it comes to marriage. If you must marry and remain married, you cannot do what you like, you must do what is right. The devil could not go to Adam but went to the Eve because women are susceptible and emotional. Build your character in line with God’s word.
- Pride: Pride which can be seen as overestimation of self, can put potential suitors off and lead to delay in marriage for women (Proverbs 11:2).
- Wrong Carriage and Packaging: Some women package themselves so wrongly that any man who looks at them concludes that they cannot be a wife. Avoid the fake life and be real and modest, bearing in mind that men want to marry not just container, but the content. Package yourself in a manner that tells people who you are, especially as a believer. Your dressing should not make people mistake you for a harlot or a street girl.
- Inadequate Preparation: Jotham became mighty because he prepared, according to 2nd Chronicles 27:6. Create a picture of the future you want from scriptures and faithfully and prayerfully believe God for it. Many women are in trouble today because there is no picture and as such, any kind of man is entertained and considered.
Factors that Contribute to Marital Bliss
This requires the following:
- Love and Respect (Ephesians 5:33); any home that is shaking lacks these two things. By the time you insult, abuse or constantly confront one another, you have completely destroyed that marriage.
- Peace; always seek peace in your home because it is a major prerequisite for God’s presence, which every home needs to succeed (Romans 14:19).
- Friendly Environment; create a friendly and joyful environment, and some humour in the marriage (Psalm 37:4). Try not to be hostile to people around you or to lambaste your wife in the presence of visitors or the children, as it may create a toxic environment around the home.
- Diligence; avoid laziness, make yours a hardworking family (Ecclesiastes 10:18).
How to Actualize your Glorious Marriage Destiny
- Be saved and remain in the love of God. Man and wife must be born again, must both love the Lord (Romans 8:28) and go after His purpose.
- Couples must remain committed to kingdom advancement endeavors, serve God and go for prayer meetings together. Make sure everyone in your family serves God with you.
- Engage fiery faith in addressing every matter. Be a family that can believe God for anything (Hebrews 11:6, Habakkuk 2:4). Build the family to one of faith.
- Be a family of gratitude. Thank God at all times and appreciate him for every little thing. What you appreciate will never depreciate (Psalm 92:1-2).
- Make God your source of expectation (Psalm 62:5), waiting only and always on Him.
- Be a caring family with a large heart (Deuteronomy 32:30).
- Be a family that enjoys mentorship (Hebrews 7:7), identifying and following a good example of a successful marriage. The moment you get into marriage make yourself accountable to someone who will watch over you and your progress in marriage. This person or couple can also offer some level of counselling if the need arises.
Remember, mentors are ladders and coaches (Philippians 3:17).
