Most of us have picked up a “For Dummies” book at some point. They take complicated subjects—everything from computers to plumbing—and break them down so that anyone can understand. In a way, the Bible works the same. It takes life’s deepest issues and gives us clear answers, written in a way that we can grasp and apply.
The Bible is God’s Word—perfect, inerrant, and full of wisdom for how we should live. And when it comes to success, Scripture is not silent. In fact, Joshua 1:8 tells us exactly how to have “good success”:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Notice that phrase—good success. If there’s such a thing as good success, then there must also be bad success. Let’s explore what that means through the story of Joseph.
Good Success Defined
A simple definition of good success is this:
Finding the will of God for your life and faithfully doing it over an extended period of time.
That’s what Joseph did. Whether he was in a pit, in Potiphar’s house, in prison, or in Pharaoh’s palace, Joseph remained faithful to God. He made right choices, avoided bitterness, and stayed obedient. As a result, God’s favor rested on him.
Good success isn’t about wealth, titles, or popularity. It’s about consistently walking in God’s will and experiencing His blessing over time—in your marriage, your work, your family, and your witness.
Success Often Follows Testing
Joseph’s journey reminds us that good success often comes after testing.
At 17, his brothers threw him into a pit.
He was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned.
For 13 years, Joseph endured hardship before Pharaoh promoted him at age 30.
Then he faithfully carried out God’s plan during seven years of abundance and seven years of famine.
By the time he saw the full picture of God’s plan, Joseph was 44 years old. That means 27 years of valleys and mountains prepared him for the role God had in mind.
The lesson is clear: don’t despise the testing. Trials and troubles shape us, refine us, and prepare us for lasting success.
Guarding Against Bad Success
Not all success is good. Sometimes, when God blesses us, we forget who gave the blessing. Familiarity and ungratefulness creep in, and what was once a gift becomes ordinary.
Joseph guarded against this by naming his sons as reminders:
Manasseh – “God has made me forget all my toil.”
Ephraim – “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Every time Joseph saw his children, he was reminded of God’s faithfulness through both suffering and blessing. He never forgot the source of his success.
We must do the same. Good success should always be valued, enjoyed, and never taken for granted.
The Danger of Familiarity and Ungratefulness
Author Max Lucado once described “familiarity and ungratefulness” as silent agents that rob us of life’s wonder. They don’t steal our salvation, but they make us forget what it felt like to be lost. They dull our worship, weaken our prayers, and make blessings seem common.
When we let routine replace gratitude, we risk turning good success into bad success. We start thinking we’re self-made. We become careless with God’s gifts—our families, our faith, our opportunities—and the sparkle fades into drabness.
Living in Good Success
True success is not about climbing the ladder of the world. It’s about faithfully walking with God, in both valleys and mountaintops, without losing gratitude along the way.
Value the blessings God has given you.
Enjoy the season you are in.
Stay thankful, even in trials.
Don’t let familiarity rob you of wonder.
Joseph’s life shows us that good success is possible—and it doesn’t have to ruin us. But it requires faithfulness, humility, and gratitude every step of the way.
Takeaway: Success isn’t about doing life your way; it’s about doing God’s will, His way, over the long haul. That’s the difference between good success and bad success
