The PSLE results have just been released. While some are overjoyed, there are other parents who are disappointed with their child’s results. More importantly, they are worried about their child’s ability to excel academically and hence to succeed in life. In other words, to them, academic results determine your success in life. But how does one measure success? Is one successful when he has a university degree or when he is working as a doctor, lawyer or engineer? Or is he successful when he earns a five digit salary? Are the above mentioned people still considered successful when their private and family lives are unhappy? Who is a blessed and a successful man? The Bible describes a blessed man in this way:

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:3)

A blessed or successful man is not defined as someone who has the things that will promote a happy life, which could be academic certificates or material possessions. Instead, he is someone who experiences and enjoys a happy life. It is pointless to have so many material things but yet be unable to be truly happy and to enjoy abundant life.

A blessed man “is planted by streams of water,” that is, he is guaranteed of a continual supply of life. People may change or the world’s economy may take a bad turn, but he continues to enjoy life. He “yields its fruits in season.” In other words, his life and efforts are not wasted but he is rewarded for his efforts. “Whatever they do prospers.”

But that does not mean that this blessed man will not face sufferings or setbacks. The fact that this man is advised not to follow the ways of wicked men (Psalm 1:1) hints that this psalm is written for a man who is facing difficult times and is tempted to use sinful means to succeed. Thus, when the psalmist says that “whatever they do prospers” and he “yields its fruits in season,” he means that the blessed man, despite facing setbacks and hard times, will ultimately be successful in everything that he does. The critical question is: What is the secret to success? This man “does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers” (Psalm 1:1). In other words, he fears the Lord and shuns away from sin. As a result, the Lord “watches over the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6 ).

If you want your child or if you want to succeed in life, you must know the critical factor for success: You must be a God fearing man because God is the only Person who determines whether you succeed or fail.

Oftentimes, we are afraid of offending human beings but not afraid of sinning against God. Out of fear, a person lies or does things that displease God just to get out of trouble. This is foolishness: You escape the troubles that come from finite man and fall into the hands of the almighty fearful God.

But if you fear the Lord and honour Him, the Bible says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (1:7); “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10), you will become wise because the Lord gives wisdom to those who fear and honour Him (Prov 2:7). Success in life is more than scoring A’s. It is more important to be able to exercise wisdom in managing relationships with your boss, colleagues, family, friends and people. Wisdom in making important decisions is critical for success. Such wisdom comes only from God and He gives it not to intelligent people but people who fear God more than man, who only choose things that please God.