People pay big money to attend seminars on how to be successful. It’s in the heart of every person to succeed (at something). It’s our heart because God wired us that way.
And although I could go down a proven list of steps for success, I want to highlight one that can be overlooked– but is no less crucial than anything else we could name. And it’s summed up best in this verse:
“That each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:4).
The Amplified Bible says, “That each of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things that profane) and honor.” Now, in context, these passages are specifically speaking to sexual sin and keeping yourself in a holy and honorable way. I don’t need to add anything to that– it speaks for itself. But what I want to highlight is that each of us are in complete control of our choices, including how we respond to challenges, temptations, and assaults.
In other words, when you don’t get your way, how do you handle yourself? Do you pout? Are you immediately offended? Do you fly off the handle? Each of these negative responses are hidden in the heart of man. Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). This means you can’t hide what’s inside. But you can take ownership and let the Holy Spirit help you.
Paul told Timothy that the man or woman who recognizes these things and applies God’s grace to his life, “will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). Can you say successful? But notice it’s the individual’s job to “cleanse himself” or we could say, “possess his own vessel.” Success is never dependent on what others are doing or saying. True success in life will always be linked back to what we believed and how we responded (in Christ).
As an illustration, think about the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). We often look at his reckless life of sin and judge him harsher than his older brother who stayed home. But what is worse? Sins of the body or sins of the heart? Public opinion is quick to judge sins of the body (things we can see). But the older brother had a terrible disposition. He sat outside pouting and wouldn’t even acknowledge the “salvation” of his younger brother. On the outside it looked like he was the righteous one. He didn’t stray, he didn’t appear selfish; by all measurements, he was the smart, successful one.
But look again.
This older brother was self-righteous. He didn’t have the compassion of his father. Instead he flew off the handle, spoke harshly, and was offended. Heaven doesn’t call this success. This is failure. This is a lack of love.
To live victoriously, we must be able to possess our own vessel IN LOVE. In other words, the love of God should have more room in our heart than any other thing. A lack of love is a lack of God Himself. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).
But here’s the irony: you and I can’t possibly “possess our own vessel” without the help of God’s love. Our natural nature is prone to sin (another word for failure). But a heart filled with the love of God can’t be anything but victorious! And the by-product is that a heart filled with God’s love also has God’s wisdom (for success)!
So the key to success is: check your heart.
Does God have priority there? Are you allowing Him to talk you through tough situations? Is His love helping you respond correctly? If you answered yes, you are possessing your vessel well– and on the road to living victoriously.
