Success, often pursued and celebrated in various aspects of life, holds distinct meanings for different individuals. In this exploration of 30 Bible verses about success, each accompanied by a commentary, we delve into the biblical perspective on prosperity, achievement, and fulfillment.
The scriptures provide profound insights into the true source and nature of success, guiding believers to align their pursuits with God’s principles. As we navigate through these verses, may the wisdom and guidance found in the Word inspire a transformative understanding of success that reflects God’s purpose for our lives.
Bible verses about success
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV):
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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.”
Joshua 1:8 establishes a foundational principle for success—immersion in God’s Word. This verse emphasizes the inseparable connection between meditating on the Law and achieving prosperous and good success. Success, according to this scripture, is intricately linked to obedience to God’s commands.
Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV):
“Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3 provides a concise formula for success—commitment to the Lord. This verse suggests that aligning one’s works with God’s guidance leads to the establishment of thoughts and actions. Success, from a biblical standpoint, involves surrendering endeavors to God’s direction.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV):
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 unveils God’s intentions for His people—thoughts of peace, a future, and hope. This verse portrays God as the orchestrator of success, weaving a narrative that includes His plans for a prosperous and hopeful future for those who trust in Him.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV):
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither, And whatever he does shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:1-3 paints a vivid picture of success rooted in godly living. The contrast between the godly and the ungodly sets the stage for understanding true success—delighting in God’s law and meditating on it leads to a life marked by sustained fruitfulness and prosperity.
3 John 1:2 (NKJV):
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
3 John 1:2 presents a holistic view of prosperity, encompassing physical well-being and soul prosperity. This verse suggests that true success involves alignment with God’s will, leading to prosperity in every aspect of life in accordance with the prosperity of the soul.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV):
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 establishes trust in the Lord as a fundamental principle for success. This passage highlights the importance of surrendering human understanding and acknowledging God in all endeavors. Success, according to this scripture, flows from a trust-filled reliance on God’s guidance.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 presents a priority shift for success—seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else. This verse indicates that success is a byproduct of aligning priorities with God’s agenda, with the promise that necessary provisions will be added as a divine outcome.
Psalm 20:4 (NKJV):
“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.”
Psalm 20:4 invites believers to present their desires and purposes before God. This verse conveys that true success involves aligning personal aspirations with God’s will, trusting that He will grant and fulfill them in accordance with His divine plan.
Psalm 37:4 (NKJV):
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 echoes the theme of delighting in the Lord for success. This verse suggests that true delight in God leads to a transformation of desires, aligning them with His will and prompting Him to grant the heart’s desires as a result of the delight found in Him.
Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV):
“By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.”
Proverbs 22:4 links humility and the fear of the Lord to success—riches, honor, and life. This verse presents success as a consequence of a humble and reverent posture towards God, acknowledging that true prosperity flows from a heart attuned to God’s ways.
Psalm 90:17 (NKJV):
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Psalm 90:17 is a prayer for divine favor and establishment. This verse acknowledges that the beauty of the Lord upon believers can lead to the establishment of their endeavors. Success, in this context, involves divine favor shaping and sustaining the work of one’s hands.
Psalm 118:25 (NKJV):
“Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.”
Psalm 118:25 is a plea for divine intervention and prosperity. This verse expresses the understanding that true success involves God’s saving and prospering work, emphasizing the need for divine intervention in achieving lasting prosperity.
Genesis 39:3 (NKJV):
“And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.”
Genesis 39:3 narrates Joseph’s success under Potiphar’s supervision. This verse attributes Joseph’s prosperity to the presence of the Lord with him, highlighting that success is intrinsically tied to God’s involvement and favor in every endeavor.
1 Samuel 18:14 (NKJV):
“And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.”
1 Samuel 18:14 attributes David’s wise behavior and success to the presence of the Lord with him. This verse suggests that success is intricately connected to godly wisdom and the abiding presence of God in one’s life.
Bible verses about success
Psalm 84:11 (NKJV):
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11 portrays God as a source of grace, glory, and abundance. This verse affirms that success involves God’s generous provision for those who walk uprightly, reflecting the idea that divine favor is key to achieving good and prosperous outcomes.
2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV):
“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.'”
2 Chronicles 20:20 underscores the connection between belief in God and prosperity. This verse suggests that establishing faith in the Lord and His guidance leads to prosperity, emphasizing the role of trust in achieving favorable outcomes.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV):
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
Deuteronomy 8:18 attributes the ability to gain wealth to the Lord. This verse emphasizes that success involves recognizing God as the ultimate source of power and wealth, framing prosperity as part of God’s covenantal promises.
Psalm 1:3 (NKJV):
“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:3 reiterates the imagery of a prosperous tree. This verse emphasizes that a life rooted in God’s Word and principles is marked by sustained fruitfulness and success in every endeavor, portraying a picture of holistic and lasting prosperity.
Haggai 2:8 (NKJV):
” ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Haggai 2:8 declares God’s ownership of silver and gold. This verse conveys the idea that true success involves recognizing God’s sovereignty over material wealth, aligning one’s stewardship with His purposes for abundance.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NKJV):
“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19 portrays wealth and labor as God’s gifts. This verse reframes success as a divine gift, highlighting that God’s provision and the ability to enjoy the fruits of labor are integral components of true success.
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV):
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”
Matthew 25:21 recounts the master’s commendation to the faithful servant. This parable underscores that success involves faithfulness in stewardship, with the promise of increased responsibility and participation in the joy of the Lord.
Psalm 37:5 (NKJV):
“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”
Psalm 37:5 encourages believers to commit their ways to the Lord. This verse suggests that success is a result of entrusting one’s path to God, with the assurance that He will bring about the fulfillment of His purposes.
Luke 6:38 (NKJV):
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 introduces the principle of giving and receiving. This verse suggests that generosity is a key component of success, emphasizing that the measure with which one gives will be returned in abundance.
Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV):
“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.'”
Isaiah 48:17 portrays God as the teacher of profit and guide in life’s journey. This verse presents success as a result of divine instruction and guidance, emphasizing the importance of being led by God in all pursuits.
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV):
“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 10:22 links the Lord’s blessing to wealth without sorrow. This verse suggests that true success involves the blessing of the Lord, which brings about prosperity without accompanying sorrow, framing wealth as a positive and fulfilling outcome.
James 1:5 (NKJV):
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 underscores the importance of seeking wisdom from God. This verse suggests that success involves the acquisition of divine wisdom, emphasizing that God generously imparts wisdom to those who seek it.
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV):
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.'”
Malachi 3:10 introduces the principle of tithing and divine blessing. This verse conveys that success involves faithful stewardship, with the promise of abundant blessings when individuals honor God with their tithes and offerings.
Luke 12:31 (NKJV):
“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Luke 12:31 echoes the priority of seeking God’s kingdom. This verse emphasizes that success involves a focus on God’s kingdom, with the assurance that all necessary provisions and blessings will be added as a result of seeking Him first.
1 Timothy 6:17 (NKJV):
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
1 Timothy 6:17 provides instructions to the wealthy. This verse suggests that success involves recognizing God as the source of all things to be enjoyed, cautioning against arrogance and misplaced trust in material wealth.
Psalm 65:11 (NKJV):
“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.”
Psalm 65:11 depicts God’s paths as dripping with abundance. This verse presents success as a journey aligned with God’s goodness and abundance, portraying a picture of continuous blessings along the path of divine guidance.
Bible verses about success
In conclusion, the Bible offers a multifaceted understanding of success, emphasizing the importance of aligning with God’s principles, seeking His kingdom, and recognizing His role as the ultimate source of prosperity. True success, as portrayed in these verses, involves a holistic and purposeful approach to life, rooted in faith, obedience, and a deep connection with the Creator. May these biblical insights guide and inspire individuals on their journey towards a meaningful and God-honoring success.
Read: Powerful Bible verses about faith (With Bible Interpretation)