Have you thought about just how much God, through your parents, provides for you in food, clothing and shelter? Ever considered helping out and contributing to the needs of God’s Work, your family, and at the same time reaping the blessing of income for yourself? Employment accomplishment brings with it great joy, satisfaction and godly character.
To attain this goal, or any other, we need what Herbert W. Armstrong termed an “all-important” law. That law is the fourth law of success: drive! A halfhearted effort won’t succeed in accomplishment; we must employ this law of drive!
In The Seven Laws of Success, Mr. Armstrong wrote, “You will always find that the executive head of any growing, successful organization employs drive! He puts a constant prod on himself. He not only drives himself, he drives those under him, else they might lag, let down and stagnate.”
Today, in the most blessed nations on Earth, we find the most slothful, unmotivated, hand-out generation in history. Content to take loans they will never repay, live off unemployment checks, food stamps and welfare, allowing their minds to drift in decay.
We see government waste and excessive spending, with the few motivated to employment success all too often caught in the grip of selfish greed, ignoring the very laws that govern true and lasting success.
Mr. Armstrong taught that accomplishment is doing, that God is a Creator, Designer and Builder. God not only created us in His very image, He equipped us in His Church with access to His divine spirit mind (Genesis 1:26-27; Revelation 1:14-16; Galatians 5:22-23).
After detailed planning and heavenly blueprinting, God created the heavens and Earth. What was God’s reaction to viewing these spectacular accomplishments? It was “good,” He said. The English translation of the Hebrew good is “pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable, glad, happy, prosperous and right.”
Consider a powerful applicable biblical analogy: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Mr. Armstrong identified this sluggardly behavior in modern workers: “Often workmen never rise above whatever job they may have because they have no drive. They slow down, work slowly, poke around, sit down and rest as much as they can. In other words, they must have a boss over them to drive them, or they would probably starve” (ibid).
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (verses 9-11).
“They would never become successful farmers—for a farmer, to succeed, must get up early and work late, and drive himself,” Mr. Armstrong continued. “That is one reason so many must work for others. They cannot rely on themselves—they must be driven by one of more energy and purpose. Without energy, drive, constant propulsion, a person need never expect to become truly successful.”
What are your short- and long-term employment goals? Do you currently have a part-time job? Are you learning and obeying God’s law of tithing as outlined in Hebrews 7? If the answer is no, then beware! Remember, accomplishment is doing and God is a Creator, Designer and Builder. He has created us to grow in His creative genius.
Benjamin Franklin said, “If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.” What type of teen are you? Industrious or slothful? God wants to hear from you in your prayers; He wants to hear of the hopes, dreams and aspirations that fill your mind (Matthew. 7:7-8). He possesses the infinite mind of Divine entrepreneur, architect, engineer and chief executive officer.
Discuss those short- and long-term goals with your parents. Seek out advice and input from industry professionals. Search for employment wisdom (Proverbs 2-3). Analyze your personality, home environment, hobbies and sports interests. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, then target those weaknesses, and with God’s help, turn them into successes.
God is in the business of creating, and He has invited you into His creative family business. He enjoys His work and created mankind to know “the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul” (Proverbs 13:19). God earnestly wants to hear, grant and oversee your employment goals. However, you must be driven by purpose, desire and vision.
It’s time to set lofty goals, work to achieve them, create, build, accomplish and look to God as your guide and business manager. It’s time to drive toward success.