September 2, 2016 Brethren Letter
Dear Brethren,
When I was eight years old, I came home from school one day to do my usual homework assignments, and maybe still have a little time for my neighborhood buddies before dark. But when I got home, something was different. There was a new piece of furniture in the living room that I had never seen before. It was beautiful. It seemed to sparkle like a diamond.
With my eyes as big as “saucers”, I went right over to it and began to count. It had eighty-eight keys! I pressed the first key, and then the next. Who cared about eating snacks that day, or what the other kids in the neighborhood were doing? This was our brand new piano. Who could ask for anything more?
There would be years of piano lessons ahead, with many hours thinking about music becoming my life’s career. Some years later, I wrote my first musical score (in conjunction with a friend), for the high school band, which was featured at a concert. I was sure that the writing of music was definitely in my future. I went to college to receive a music degree and planned on becoming the next “John Williams.” Though it didn’t turn out exactly like that, God did give me an opportunity to use my musical training in the Church of God as a choir director for many years. That opportunity was most rewarding!
Now you might ask, what is the point of this? I’ll explain. To be a real success in life, Mr. Armstrong taught in his booklet, (The Seven Laws of Success) seven vital keys we must apply in order to achieve success.
Here are those SEVEN KEYS (laws):
1) Fix the right goal
2)Receive right education
3)Maintain good health
4)Have drive
5)Resourcefulness (for any unexpected situations)
6)Perseverance (STICK-TO-IT-IVENESS)
7)Have contact, guidance and continuous help from God
Obviously, those keys can be applied in choosing a career. To some extent I did apply several of the keys in my decision to achieve a musical career. My original goal was to write music scores for movies and television shows. I studied everything I could. I had good health. I had the drive. I was going to reach that goal, no matter what!
However, law number seven (my contact with God) was something I would have to learn later during my second year of college. By the time I received my music degree, I realized that having a career in music and being a part of the entertainment industry would likely bring about compromises with God’s standards. I began to look at things differently and make changes in my life.
Brethren, the Laws of Success, can be applied physically, but more importantly, we should be applying them spiritually. Just think of what God has planned for us. Here are some examples.
“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed
(Daniel 7:13-14).
…He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34).
Apply ALL of the seven laws of success, brethren. They’re far more than just “physical success laws”. Though this will not be a complete listing of scriptures, here are some verses that apply spiritually with the seven laws of success:
1)Fix the right goal (But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… – Matthew 6:33)
2)Receive right education (“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – II Timothy 2:15)
3)Maintain good health (What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? – I Corinthians 6:19)
4)Have drive (…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us – Hebrews 12:1)
5)Resourcefulness (for any unexpected situations) (Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:- I Peter 4:12)
6)Perseverance (STICK-TO-IT-IVENESS) (…But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22)
7)Have contact, guidance and continuous help from God
(pray without ceasing – I Thessalonians 5:17 — Jesus said to him, Matthew 22:37-38)
Now those are some excellent examples to keep our focus on! Soon we’ll be observing the Fall Holy Days. Before the Holy Days this year, I would suggest that all of us meditate on the Seven Laws of Success and how we can better apply them spiritually.
Please have a good Sabbath.
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold