ESSENTIALS TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

Introduction:
   1. Our lesson today: "Essentials to a successful life."
   2. "Essential"-- "something necessary, indispensable, or
         unavoidable" (Webster).
   3. Who among us does not seek a successful life?
   4. If you or I would have a successful life, there are some
         things which are absolutely necessary, indispensable,
         essential.
   5. Thus, "Things essential to a successful life."

BODY:

  I. WORK:
     1. Jehovah created man and adapted him to work. Gen. 2:15;
        Gen. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:10.
     2. We should be happy in our work or it becomes a drudgery.
     3. Jesus set the example -- Matt. 20:28 "Came to minister"
     4. When a person is idle, we open ourselves up to all kinds of
        worries and fears.
     5. Cf. a child; When they have nothing to do, they usually get
        themselves into trouble, create problems, etc.

 II. LOVE:
     1. There must be someone to love. To share good things.
     2. Some are too selfish to love anyone except themselves.
     3. Jesus understood this need -- Matt. 22:37-40.
     4. Paul recognized this -- 1 Cor. 13:1-7.
     5. For this reason, God created Eve and established the
        marriage union. Gen 2:18 -- "Not good for man to be alone."
     6. Paul teaches on this -- Eph 5:22-33.

III. AN ACCEPTANCE OF SELF:
     1. We must accept the fact that different persons have
        different abilities and opportunities -- Matt. 25:14-30.
     2. To be happy, we must accept what we are and what we can do.
     3. It may be that we are inferior as to abilities, perhaps
        even with severe handicaps, but let us not complain over
        what we cannot do.
     4. Yet, we cannot use the lack of ability as an excuse to do
        nothing.
     5. Phil. 4:11 -- Paul learned to be content with the things
        which happened to him. Not necessarily satisfied, but
        content. Surely, the apostle did not enjoy the strips, the
        stonings, but he learned how to accept them.
     6. Cf. Fanny J. Crosby -- Wrote 8500 hymns, though she was
        blind from the age of six weeks. How easy it would have
        been for her to wallow in her own self pity.
     7. There have been many great accomplishments by those who
        were severely physically handicapped.
     8. But, they accepted who they were.

 IV. SELF-EXAMINATION:
     1. To be successful, one must look deep within ourselves.
     2. 2 Cor 13:5 -- "Try your own selves, whether ye are in the
        faith; prove your own selves."
     3. Gal. 6:4 -- "But let each man prove his own work..."
     4. This enables us to see ourselves as God sees us; as others
        see us.
     5. Robert Burns (1786) wrote: "To A Louse":
                Oh, what some power the gift give us,
                To see ourselves as others see us;
                It would from many a blunder free us.
     6. We need to focus criticism on self; lest we become too
        critical of others.
     7. Did not Jesus say, Matt. 7:3-5?

  V. CULTIVATE AN INTEREST IN OTHERS:
     1. Phil. 2:1-4 -- Looking to the things of others.
     2. Gal. 6:2 -- Bear ye one another's burdens.
     3. Rom. 12:15 -- "Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with
             them that weep." Share with others the emotions of
             life.
     4. Always remembering the "golden rule." Matt. 7:12. "All
             things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should
             do unto you, even so do ye also unto them."
     5. Being SELF CENTERED will rob us of much happiness.

 VI. LIVE LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME:
     1. We cannot become overly anxious about tomorrow -- Mt. 6:34.
     2. Actually, this is the only way that life can be lived;
        yesterday is gone; tomorrow has not yet come; all we have
        is NOW, TODAY.
     3. Jas. 4:13-14 -- James warns against this mistake.
     4. I am persuaded that many are attempting to carry the weight
        of the future and all of the burdens of the past.
     5. We cannot change the past; learn from it, YES, but change
        it, NO.
     6. The best preparation for TOMORROW is to do well TODAY.
     7. Can we make plans for tomorrow? Certainly, but do not allow
        them to destroy today.

Conclusion:
   1. You and I were not created to be sad, forlorn, depressed.
   2. Man was put here in a beautiful place, with everything that
      he needed.
   3. But, SIN entered the picture, and with it death, sadness,
      thorns and thistles, sweat and labor.
   4. Jesus comes upon the scene and offers us access to heaven
      with a relationship with our Creator.
   5. NOW, we can once again experience the JOY OF LIVING.
   6. Living a full life of service, pleasing Jehovah.
   7. You can be right with God.
   8. You and I can be happy.
   9. We have all things necessary to have a "Successful Life."
  10. But, we must first get right with God, obey Him.

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