How Can I Live A Happy Life?

C. Prospering in God (1:3c)

Prospering in the Lord comes from delighting in and meditating on the Word of God. In America, we hear TV preachers on the radio internet telling us that God's only plan for our life is for our "wealth and health." Yet, we know from Scripture that this is a false gospel and not the true gospel. Jesus did not die for our bank account. He died on the cross and shed His precious blood for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The Apostle Paul reminded Christians, "you have been given not only the privilege of trusting Christ, but also the privilege of suffering for Him" (Philippians 1:29). Prospering in the Lord means continual fruitfulness and every season of life, being a blessing to others, and a spiritually enriched life in Christ. (John 10:10).

Prospering in God means our lives are bent on seeking God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). "You may have a self-curated image of success but be mastered by unhealthy emotions, i.e., shame, guilt, resentment. You may gain the whole world but lose your soul in the process. A prosperous man of God seeks success in being a student of the Word, a faithful steward, an obedient beloved son, and a lover of the Lord and people. Joy and truth are fruits of prosperity" (Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters).

Conclusion

When I read Psalm 1, I think of a man I was fortunate to know. He is with the Lord now but is still greatly loved and missed. In his early years of life and into his married years, he lived as the Psalm 1:4-6 man. Although he had an excellent job and career and was starting a family, He did not have a vital connection with the Lord and was not a believer in Christ.

Things in his life started to change when his wife decided that she was going to give the church a try. Not long after, his wife heard the good news of Jesus Christ, trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and became a changed person on the inside. While glad for his wife, he wanted nothing to do with God, church, or faith.

Over time, as his wife grew in the Lord as a disciple, she obediently began to tithe their first 10% of income to God. Her husband did not like this and angrily said, "You must stop giving to the church. I knew they didn't care about you, and all they are after is my money." However, his wife, like that tree planted by streams of water, stood firm in her commitment to the Lord and tithing. Over a short period, her husband began to see even with the first 10% being given to the Lord, in no area were they falling short in income or their family. This reality, along with his wife's new Christ-like lifestyle, made him curious to hear the preaching in that church. To her surprise, he attended church one Sunday to "check things out." What he saw in that church were people filled with God's love and Spirit, people who loved and welcomed him, and most importantly, he heard the truth of God's Word and yielded his life to the Savior.

By God's grace and with time, he went from being a Psalm 1:4-6 man to a Psalm 1:1-3 man. I am sure if he could speak today, he would share what the Psalmist just said. If you want to be holy and happy in life and eternity, delight in the Bible, read it, meditate on it continually, and let it lead you to the Source from whom all blessings flow.