CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR - 3

''Reuben, you are my oldest, born at the peak of my powers; you were an honored leader. Uncontrollable as a flood, you slept with my wife and disgraced my bed. And so you no longer deserve the place of honor''- Genesis 49:3-4

One day, a rabbit boasted about how fast he could run. He laughed at the tortoise for being so slow. Much to the rabbit’s surprise, the tortoise challenged him to a race. The rabbit thought this as a good joke so he gladly accepted the challenge. As the race began, the rabbit raced way ahead of the tortoise, just like everyone thought. The rabbit got to the halfway point and could not see the tortoise anywhere. He was tired and decided to stop and take a short nap. He thought, even if the tortoise passed him, he would still be able to race to the finish line ahead of him. All this time the tortoise kept walking step by step. He never quitted no matter how hot or tired he got, he just kept going. The rabbit on the other hand slept longer than he had thought. When he woke up, he could not see the tortoise in sight. He went at full-speed to the finish line but found the tortoise there waiting for him.

Good attitude is a Critical Success Factor in the race of life. From the above story, the rabbit finished badly because he had some very terrible attitudes. He was so boastful, proud and arrogant. He seemed not to understand that a good talent with a bad attitude equals bad talent. Only a good attitude can guarantee access to the place of honour in the race of life. 

​In Genesis 49:3-4, God told us about the story of Reuben - a young man with some impeccable credentials like that of the Rabbit but who also stumbled before getting to the finish line. Reuben had virtually everything but lacked good attitude. He was an ungodly, rude, disobedient and unruly young man who enjoyed the pleasure of sin to the fullest. Reuben's bad attitude deflated his rear tyre (his past) and broke his front mirror (his future). Eventually, he was cursed and his name was deleted from his father's register of honour long before he reached the finish line.

A bad attitude is a major disability in life. It is a serious impediment on the road to the place of honour. Anyone with bad attitude can never go far in life. Unfortunately, there are still many people like Reuben in this generation. These people believe they can live recklessly and still finish their race on earth very well. They simply place more premium on their skills/qualifications/anointing/wealth/positions etc more than their attitudes or dispositions to God and man. This is absolutely wrong!

Friends, are you one of the Reubens or Samsons in town? I urge you to please make conscious efforts to stop those bad attitudes capable of turning your destiny in an anti-clockwise direction like Reuben or Samson. Obviously, you need God's help to make this a reality. The Holy Spirit can help you through the process known as sanctification (Galatians 5:22-26) but you must first surrender your life to Jesus Christ.  

​One interesting poem that re-echoes this critical success factor is titled ''Success And Attitude''. 

SUCCESS AND ATTITUDE by Nsikak Andrew

Success and attitude walks hand-in-hand,

The good news is, you can never get to one;

Without the other and the bad news is,

You can’t do without working in both pathways.

True success is built on attitude,

And success can only be attained;

If you have the right attitude towards,

Dealing with everyone that comes your way.

Being smart has its own limits,

But having the right attitude;

Is limitless and a panacea,

To open many doors of success.

The factor needed for success is attitude,

It is through this you will attain your set goals in life;

If you can solve your attitude problem,

Then you can live without any regret.

This day, the grip of bad attitude holding you in captivity is broken and every curse of Reuben hanging over your destiny is reversed now in Jesus name (Deuteronomy 33:6).

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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