Column: G. David Henderson: Biblical success principles to achieve your New Year’s resolutions

Published 12:23 am Saturday, December 31, 2011

“Man did eat angels’ food” (Psalms 78:25)

Today’s devotional is dedicated to my deceased brother-in-law, Archie Blackwell, who was born Jan. 15, 1932. He was born and raised in extreme poverty, yet became one of the most successful and wealthy business owners in his state. He faithfully practiced the success principles taught in the Bible and presented in today’s devotional.

1) My brother-in-law believed in God for his success as if his business depended solely on God, but he worked hard, sacrificially, long hours, with intense, endless chronic back pain that hospitalized him many times, as if the success of his business depended solely on himself. Such is called “perfect faith” in James 2:22 that God always blesses financially and materially.

2) He constantly created for his business. He practiced in his business and even taught his children that “nothing is impossible” to achieve. He endlessly worked hard and long hours on different methods in his business until he discovered something that worked. He believed and practiced about himself and his successful company the same thing Jesus believes about every person reading this article at this moment, “ … and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

3) Archie was financially and materially unselfish with his wealth. He faithfully gave 10 percent of his income (called “tithe” in Malachi 3:8-12) to his religion. The only reason God requires that 10 percent from the salary of every person is for your financial investment into his financially secure kingdom and worldwide religion that pays higher and safer dividend rates than any of our modern day banks and financial institutions where fraud has been exposed. Never expect any kind of financial or material success or blessing from God while robbing him of his tithes to use for your own financial pleasures and needs.

4) He always gave unto others who were in financial need. When he asked my father for a small amount of money to begin his new business, my father’s negative response was, “Nah, that airplane (his new business) will never fly.” My brother-in-law unselfishly and without any retribution against my father paid for all airfare expenses for my mother, painfully dying with cancer, to be flown from Florida to a New Orleans hospital. He flew many afflicted people to hospitals all over the United States without charging them financially. Even after his retirement, my brother-in-law used his company, his equipment and employees, including his own hard labor, to repair or modernize many churches without financial charges.

God promises every unselfish, faithful giver unto him, his churches and religions, including others in need, that he will repay them endlessly, over and above the amount they gave (Proverbs 19:17).

These same biblical success principles that worked so successfully and God glorifyingly for my brother-in-law will work for every person who practices them unselfishly, and faithfully.

The Rev. G. David Henderson is the pastor of Temple of the Lord at 611 S. Green St. in Dalton. You can reach him at angelsfood@optilink.us. His column appears on Saturday.