Imagine walking into a huge stadium with 50,000 people in attendance. Grab the microphone and ask this simple question, “Who wants to be prosperous and successful?” I am confident that every single hand would be raised. But the challenge begins when we start to define prosperity and success. When is enough, enough?

In Joshua 1:8, Moses gives some amazing advice on this subject. He tells us to meditate on God’s Word every single day and then asserts that we “will be prosperous and successful.”

Obedience is the doorway to that prosperity and success. But what exactly can we expect in return?

I think the answer lies in understanding the two Hebrew words that are rendered “prosperous” and “successful.” Prosperity in this passage does not mean material wealth or money. Instead, that term means to “break out” or to “go over” something. It has the idea of something coming on you so you can respond in power; you can go further; you can do more.

That same term shows up in I Samuel 10:6, where the scripture says that “The Spirit of God will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into a different person.” Here prosperity is the power to break out of a mundane mold and do life with a sense of purpose and power. The net result is not wealth, but a changed life.

And the term rendered “good success” in Joshua 1:8, doesn’t imply a stuffed bank account, but rather indicates the ability to show discernment. It is the capability of making good judgments. It is the presence of WISDOM.

When you put those two concepts together, you have the concept of living a life filled with discernment and the power to break out and serve the Lord with reckless abandonment.

I love bumper stickers. And I read about one this week that made me chuckle. It said, “You are only young once, but you can be immature your entire life.” What differentiates one adult from another is not wealth, the accumulation of property or the ability to purchase whatever they want. It is WISDOM and the power to apply it in everyday life.

Unfortunately, the situation today is: “Lots of knowledge, but little understanding. Lots of means, but little meaning. Lots of know-how, but little know-why. Lots of sight, but little insight.” (Robert Short)

The true measure of prosperity and success is the application of WISDOM. And we all need more!