That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10 KJV Bible)

Much is said today in Christian churches on the subject of success and prosperity. I have been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ since 1969, and I have seen fads come and go in the popularist preaching of the day. Few Christians choose to dwell on the right road to successful living. I believe the reason is that most believers use the popularism of the age to define their relationships with Christ and each other.

There is a right road to Biblical successful living. To live this way guarantees that on every branch of the tree fruit dangles with succulent achievement. In every line of endeavor success comes.

We know that in this present age and world, wealth makes more wealth. Well, in the world of serving Christ, I find that everything serves to make me fruitful in Him. I can be fruitful in every good work! If I have want, it need not hinder, but yield its own blessing! When I am healthy, I am blessed, but when I am sick, I am aided. There are blessings on every hand.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV Bible)

I am a kidney transplant patient. I did not feel blessed when I lost my kidneys and was on dialysis. However, God came to me in my sickness, and I am still preaching today. I can’t do all that I would like, but I am still bearing fruit. You can too!

How is this wonderful success attained? Colossians tells me it goes along with and depends on increasing in the knowledge of God. The Christian sees every moment of the day, every breath from our lungs and every beat of our heart as from Him. This defines our wealth, not the earthly definitions of success. I am never a man in recession because I refuse to allow the recession of our times to define who I am and to whom I belong. Our real ‘wealth’ is yielded to Him and so it opens up to us wonderful knowledge of the ways in which He uses it. His Word and Ways do not return void, but are fruitful in every good work! When I join my 'wealth' to His work, I can know insights of great joy as I see Him work in me through the cacophony of life. Even if I bring Him my poverty, He knows how to use it. He knows how to take my loaves and multiply; He knows how to get a penny from my fish's mouth, if I give it to Him; He knows how to give me rest ,even if I have no pillow for my head.

This blessing is not guaranteed until I give my real ‘wealth’ to Him. We are all wealthy, but often we allow the world to define us as lacking. We never increase in knowledge 'till we increase in dedication. We fumble with life’s meaning 'till we truly give our lives to Him. The perfume of the rose is natural to the rose. A fruitful life is natural to the Christian. Every time I smell a rose, its fragrance, reminds me of my Savior’s sweetness. Beauty is natural to the flowers. A fruitful faith is natural to the Christian. For me, the beauty of the flowers manifests Jesus Christ’s loveliness. Every fruit bears after its kind. Christ reminds me that I also am fruitful!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. … (Galatians 5:22-24 KJV Bible)

Fruitful is how the Spirit of Christ defines me.