Tag: Blessings

How to have a fruitful life

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HIGHLIGHT

Psalm 128:1–2 (ESV): 1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

EXPLAIN

Psalms are often placed into four or five categories: lament, imprecatory, praise, etc. If I could create a category, I might suggest “family” for at least Psalms 127 & 128. Both psalms talk about how God will bless the family of the one who chooses to serve God as King.

Psalm 127 begins somewhat negatively, saying that unless God builds the house, the builders build in vain, but the psalm ends with great positivity. Psalm 128 is completely positive. The one who references God and obeys him will eat of the fruit of his own labor, and his wife and children will be blessed.

The psalm ends with a blessing that the one who fears God may see their grandchildren. Of course, in those days average life expectancy was a lot lower than it is today with the advances in medicine we enjoy. So to see your grandchildren suggests a very full and blessed life.

APPLY

I think almost everyone wants to have a good life. Some may be afraid of getting too old due to the loss of mobility, mental capacity, etc. that we see some experience today. But most people desire a full, abundant, fruitful life.

We do many things to gain, keep, and preserve this kind of life, as well. Some focus on education, work ethic and more to prosper. Some focus on investments, insurance, etc. to grow and protect one’s wealth. All of this may be helpful.

But the truly blessed person is the one who has submitted their life to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, I have chosen to live for you and you have blessed my life so far. May I continue to serve you faithfully as you pour out blessings upon me. In good times and bad, life under your lordship is prosperous. So I live with gratitude to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The good life

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Psalm 112:1–2 (ESV): 112 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

EXPLAIN

This is a beautiful psalm of encouragement for those who live for God. There are multiple promises for the upright: his children and grandchildren will be influential in the land, his estate will be wealthy, he will be secure, he will not worry when bad news arrives, and he will be honored.

Of course, such scriptures like this must be understood in context – in context with the whole of scriptural teaching as well as its own particular context.

We understand that God does not promise that following him is the path to success, prosperity, power and position. Jesus said we must take up our cross and follow him.

Furthermore, this psalm identifies this blessed man as one who is “gracious, merciful, and righteous” (v. 4), who is generous with others and lends freely, conducting his affairs with justice, giving freely to others, especially the poor.

The last verse provides a stark contrast: the wicked man who looks on with anger and jealousy at the blessed, righteous man. Yet “the desire of the wicked will perish” (v. 10).

APPLY

It is a mistake to approach living for Jesus as a means to “get rich” or “be successful” in life. Yet those who surrender themselves to God’s will find true blessing in life.

The rich young rulers, afraid to trust God and sell all they have to follow Jesus, walk away sad. But the one who submits all to the lordship of King Jesus lives the “good life”!

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, my desire in life is to know Jesus fully. Thank you for the many blessings you pour upon me as I seek to live in the center of your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for your blessings

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HIGHLIGHT

Psalm 65:12–13 (ESV): 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

EXPLAIN

Psalms 63-65 may not have been written in chronological order, but they provide interesting comparison and contrast.

In Psalm 63, David was in the wilderness of Judah, longing for God’s presence. He chose to worship God and so expressed confidence that those who sought to destroy him would experience destruction.

In Psalm 64, David expressed his complaint to God, asking God to preserve his life from the enemy. David described their attacks as ambushes, mounting sudden, secret, evil attacks upon him. But David expressed his confidence that God would shoot his own arrows at the wicked and they would be brought to ruin.

In Psalm 65, we now find a psalm of praise in which vows would be performed to God in the house of worship. God was described as the one who established the mountains and stilled the roaring of the seas. Now God would visit the earth with water, causing the crops to grow abundantly.

APPLY

God allows us to traverse dark, dreadful valleys in our lives. Indeed, sometimes, God allows us to be chased into barren wildernesses. But for the one who seeks God faithfully, God blesses.

God’s blessing should not necessarily be equated with worldly riches, although that may be a result. The greatest blessing we receive from walking faithfully with God is the confidence of his presence, in good times and bad.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for your abundant blessings upon my life. They are too numerous to list. But thank you especially for the assurance of salvation, growth in Christ, and the confidence of your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.