THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

The psalmist begins with some don’ts.  If you want to be happy, don’t listen to the wisdom of the wicked; don’t be seen with people who are doing things you know are wrong; and don’t hang out with people who dishonor God.  It is pretty clear that if you do, you are going to end up foolish, in trouble, and displeasing to God.  Ok, enough said about that.  The truth is that most of us don’t really have that much trouble with these things.  Actually, we don’t feel all that comfortable around wicked sinful people who mock God. 

The negative part isn’t what hangs us up.  It’s the positive part that follows it . . .  It says that the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord.  In fact, it says that he thinks about it day and night.  Well, I think that God’s law is real good.  I understand that it is the way to happiness and fulfillment in life.  I like it and am very glad that God gave it to us, but delight!?  Do I think of God’s law as delightful?  Let’s see, I could eat ice cream with chocolate on it or I could just sit and think about God’s law . . . hmmm, which will it be?  Tough choice, but I will probably, more often than not, go with the ice cream.  And think about God’s law day and night, come on!!

Well, here’s the deal . . . the psalmist, in his best poetic fashion, is drawing a comparison for us between those who don’t water their life with God’s Word and those who do.  When God’s Word is nourishing your character at its roots, the result will be life and fruitfulness and spiritual prosperity.  When that godly nourishment is missing the consequences are not nearly as attractive.  Sooo . . . if you want to be happy and blessed and fulfilled in life, stay close to the living water!  Oh, and the fishing is better there too!  (Matt. 4:19).

--- Pastor Keith Andrews