Sermon – God’s Instructions for Purposeful Living
Scripture - Psalms 1:1-6 AMP, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.”
Introduction: What does it mean to live purposefully? Living a life of purpose is about prioritizing what truly matters to you according to your values and beliefs — then taking consistent action toward those priorities. Living purposefully is deeply personal; no one can dictate your soul's calling. Believers are given a higher purpose in life because they are called live a life of righteousness, peace and joy by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Some people live on purpose and some just respond to what the world delivers. A “life of purpose” is not something you do or something you have automatically, it is choices that each of us make. Living a life of purpose guides all our choices and shapes the direction of our life. The text is written to believers, God’s people who are accepted and loved. Each of us have been given freewill and must choose to follow God. The Bible is clear that our ultimate purpose in life as believers is to glorify God.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1Corinthians 10:31.
We are to live our lives in a way that brings honor and glory to God. Embracing God’s instruction for purposeful living, giving honor and glory to God, believers have been given clear directions, constant motivation, and a sense of fulfillment as they live by faith. It helps believers prioritize their actions, make meaningful choices, and navigate life's challenges with strength. Besides that, it adds depth and richness to our experiences, making our life more meaningful and enjoyable. Notice that the psalmist gives us only two choices, the righteous and the wicked. Either people align themselves with the righteous ways of God or they align themselves with the wicked ways of the world. In Psalm 1, the ways of the righteous are set in contrast with the ways of the wicked revealing both benefits and burdens of the choices we make. In this wisdom psalm, we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God's direction of life. In this Psalm the writer sets forth two ways or two directions in life. One is the right way that leads to happiness, and the other is the wrong way that leads to misery.
Psalm 1 is called the preamble to the book of Psalms. That is, it serves as an introduction to the entire book. Psalm 1 is relevant to all the rest of the book of Psalms. The psalms begin with these words: “Blessed is the man.” God addresses man’s most basic question: How can I be happy (blessed) in this life? Those words indicate the desire men and the desire of God. You may be wondering, Does God really want us to be happy? Absolutely! And this happiness is not temporary, but perpetual. The word translated blessed is plural in the original Hebrew. That is, it means perpetual blessings. So how can a man be happy, truly happy? Psalm 1 is called a wisdom psalm because we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God’s direction of life.
Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ". This verse means that faith comes from hearing the Gospel preached and believing it. It emphasizes that faith is a gift from God, not something people earn through good deeds or willpower. A relationship with God begins by believing the gospel, confessing our sin and accepting his gift of forgiveness, salvation and redemption. Salvation is free, but to experience the blessed life of Psalm 1, we must choose to walk the right way.
Psalm 1:1–3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Our relationship with God gives every believer the power to choose. Satan’s power has been broken, and believers are free to choose. Psalm 1 captures a fundamental teaching found in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament God teaches His people that one’s choice will determine both the direction and the outcome of your life.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19)
In the New Testament, Jesus’ message to the crowds is to choose the right way in life:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13–14
If we are going to embrace God’s Instructions for Purposeful Living, we must be careful in choosing our connections, the food we consume, and the path we take.
1. Choose Proper Connections - First, in Psalm 1:1 we learn that happiness comes by choosing to walk on a righteous path. This determination is directly connected to other people. Each line in this verse tells us to avoid the wrong kinds of interpersonal relationships. Your friends make all the difference in your life. Notice what this verse says: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Choosing the righteous path includes refusing advice from those who hold godless values and whose moral choices violate the laws of God.
The second line goes a step further: “nor standeth in the way of sinners.” It is one thing to listen to wicked counsel. It is another to decide to stand with that viewpoint. Instead, the happy person refuses to follow the worldly crowd. You don’t see him “hanging out” with those who pursue sin as a lifestyle.
Finally, he refuses to sit and associate with those whose conversations mock and curse God: “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” If you want to be miserable, make your best friends with those who are scornful, critical and disrespectful. The three verbs—walk, stand and sit—show the slippery slope of evil. Evil is not passive. It is ever descending. The longer you go, the worse you get. A pattern of evil choices causes a downward spiral in character that leads to destruction.
2. Choose a Proper Diet – We must choose to feed on God’s Word. Second, Psalm 1:2 declares that happiness comes by developing a strong appetite for God’s Word. We learn to enjoy the Bible by nurturing the disciplined habit of meditation. Meditation involves a 24/7 or “day and night” focus on the Scripture. This means seeking to understand the Bible’s meaning as well as its application to us personally. The Spirit of God makes the Word of God satisfying to the soul of man. The Scriptures are “sweeter than honey” and “more to be desired than gold.”
Psalms 119:103-105, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalms 19:10 “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”
In some contexts, the word meditate can be translated growl or groan or moan. It conveys the idea of muttering. Perhaps you know someone who walks around mumbling to himself. We tend to view such behavior as socially odd. But the reality is that all of us talk to ourselves inside our heads all the time. There is a mental discussion going on continuously. Some people simply express parts of their dialogue audibly. This mental conversation is meditation. God blesses us as we mull over His words day and night.
The reason this way of life makes one so happy is that is fulfills the purpose for which we were created. God’s first command to man was to “be fruitful” (Genesis 1:28). Psalm 1 describes the happy man as being “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3.
Fruit bearing is the result of deep roots’ finding an abundant supply of nourishment from underground streams of water. God’s Word is an all-sufficient, eternal supply of empowering grace for all of life. Even during difficult, seemingly barren times, the Word will sustain life. A fruitful life is a blessed life. So, David sums up God’s way to happiness as choosing to be separated from the world, to be saturated with God’s Word, and to be fruitful and successful in doing God’s will.
Then David also sums up the way of the wicked. Some people choose to keep the wrong company, listen to wrong counsel, walk the wrong way and do not receive God’s best.
Psalm 1:4–6, “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
3. Choose Blessing Instead of Destruction - David goes on in verse 4 to contrast the way of the righteous with the way of the ungodly by saying “the ungodly are not so.” The ungodly consciously choose Destruction over blessing, wrong over right and will receive their just reward. Ungodliness will never, never prosper! In the end ungodly people’s lives are deemed as “chaff.” In other words, they are worthless, lifeless and useless. They will be driven away by the wind of God’s judgment. They will not dwell with the people of God in the congregation of the righteous.
At the end of the passage, the psalmist sets forth two directions—the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly; two decisions—to meditate on God’s Word or to listen to ungodly counsel; and two destinies—the righteous will enjoy God’s presence forever, but the ungodly will perish. The Psalmist contrasts two ways: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. Neither way escapes God's all-seeing eye. Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” The word "way," in this context, represents lifestyle. The righteous pursue a lifestyle of meditating upon God's Word and obeying it, while the wicked pursue a lifestyle of following the world, the flesh and the devil. God's way is meant for our benefit and blessing. When we rebel, when we sin, or mock, or go our own way, we will reap loss and death. To love God's law, to know it, and practice it, leads us to spiritual health and peace. Each day, the choices we make will either place us on the path of righteousness or will lead us further from God. Scripture makes it clear that God loves us and wants us to follow Him. A righteous life is God’s desire and design for His beloved children.
There is no room for gray area in Psalm 1. It’s this – or – that; Either Left – or – right; Sheep – or – goats, Obedience – or – Disobedience. Friend, to put it simply, either we’re chasing after God’s heart or we’re chasing after something or someone else. There is no middle ground. A gray area is just another way to say “lukewarm.” And when we’re lukewarm Jesus promises to reject us by spitting us out of His mouth because we are distasteful. (Rev 3:15-16) But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Today, you can make a different choice. "I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.
2. Tho' none go with me, I still will follow, Tho' none go with me I still will follow, Tho' none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.
3. My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus; My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus, My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus; No turning back, No turning back.
4. The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back. Amen,
