How to Lead a Really Valuable Life
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April 17, 2011 |
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 "'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.'" (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
The Book of Ecclesiastes, which gives us ultimate wisdom of our believing life, was recorded by Solomon, the third king of the United Kingdom of Israel. Solomon succeeded to King David, the greatest king of Israel, and after offering a thousand burnt offerings to God, he received God's amazing blessing—not only the answer to his prayer, the wisdom that had never been and would not be found among men but also great riches and honors.
After he enjoyed all these great blessings, however, King Solomon confessed, recording the verse, "Vanity of vanities, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!" It was because he realized the truth that the real contentment does not come from abundant finance, power and pleasure, but from only God. What then do we have to do in order to lead a really valuable life in the Lord?
First of all, we have to have the reverent fear of God.
It is recorded in Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil." This verse tells us what having the reverent fear of God means. It means 'throwing away evils God hates and living a godly life in Him.' The God of justice searches for everything with His blazing eyes and pays back each one according to what he has done. If we truly believe in such a just God from the bottom of our heart, we cannot either practice untruths or cause harms to others at all.
Joseph always had a reverent fear of God in faith and never lost heart because he had a dream God had given him. When he was sold into slavery in Egypt at 17, and unreasonably sent to prison, Joseph only relied on God. At last God exalted him in His way. God caused everything to work for the good for Joseph to be appointed as the ruler after the Pharaoh over the whole Egypt, through which the foundation would be laid for the establishment of the nation of Israel.
Thus, anyone who has such a reverent fear of God as to avoid committing sins and seek and practice God-pleasing wills lacks nothing and prospers in everything he does as recorded in Psalm 34:9, "For to those who fear Him there is no want." The second meaning of 'having a reverent fear of God' is 'turning to God and relying on Him in everything with faith.' If we completely commit every affair to God with fear of God and faith in Him the way Joseph did, we can receive blessing and lead a successful and valuable life.
Lastly, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 12:13, "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person," having a reverent fear of God is obeying the commands of God. The commands of God written in the Bible are divided into 4 categories: 'Do's,' 'Don'ts,' 'Keeps,' and 'Throw away's.' Therefore, when we obey whatever the Bible tells us to do, not to do, to keep and to throw away, we can be deemed to have a reverent fear of God.
Next, we have to ask for the wisdom and strength from above.
In order to gain wisdom that is necessary for them to live a prosperous life in the world, people seek and rely on knowledge and information through books and various journal media. But much more excellent is the wisdom from above than the wisdom gained in the world. The wisdom from above can be acquired when we throw away every form of evil and obey the Word of God as recorded in James 3:17.
The wisdom we receive from heaven after casting off every form of evil and becoming sanctified can become an influential milestone and strength for our prosperous life. It's because, in wisdom of goodness, we can receive answers to all our prayers and everything can be accomplished by the power of God as read in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
It is not true that the success and failure in life depend on our might, wisdom, and abilities. Only when we come close to God who is the fountain of wisdom and power, can we overcome any kind of difficulties and turn failure into success, misfortunes into fortunes by faith. I wish for you to seek goodness in every affair and keep the commands of God so that God can be with you and give you wisdom and strength from heaven.
Lastly, we have to stay awake all the time.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew is the parable of ten virgins, and through this parable, Jesus teaches us how to lead a Christian life in the end of the ages. In the parable, ten virgins had the lamps and were waiting for the bridegroom's coming, but finally only five virgins of them, who had prepared flasks filled with oil, received the bridegroom and attended the wedding feast. It also applies to the believers waiting for the Lord's coming again. In order to receive our Bridegroom the Lord and attend the Seven-year Wedding Banquet, we have to stay awake always, be full of the Spirit through fervent prayers and diligently adorn ourselves as His bride.
As He promised in John 14:2, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you," Jesus Christ our Bridegroom will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. In addition, as we don't know when our spirit is taken away into Heaven, we have to be always sober and clear-minded and well-prepared to have confidence in standing before the Lord.
A sober person improves his hope for Heaven day by day, and accordingly comes forth as a beautiful bride of the Lord and shares His grace with many people around him and then glorifies God. Such a person, at the Second Coming of the Lord, can see the Lord face to face and enjoy the eternal life with Him forever.
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