A Blessed Man
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 11070 |
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October 05, 2008 |
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 "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers..." (Psalm 1:1-6).
According to the standards of this world, blessed are people of good health, wealth, fame, power, and knowledge. In this world, blessed are parents whose children grow up healthy, study well, become successful, and are good to their parents in the latter's later years. In this world, blessed are also those who manage harmonious households. In other words, the standard of blessings of which the people in this world speak is measured by a life in which one does not have to concern himself with food, clothing, health, or worries.
Yet, such attributes will only meet a certain degree of satisfaction and needs while living in this world, but not constitute whole satisfaction and joy. All of these can disappear at any moment and they do not last eternally; you may also have one thing but could be lacking another.
Blessings from God, however, are different. They are true blessings, everlasting and immune to change, and we can enjoy eternal joy and comfort in heaven as well. Moreover, as our souls prosper we will prosper in all respects and be in good health even in this world. Such blessings are firm like a house built on a foundation and we receive them not only in this world but also as rewards in the kingdom of heaven.
1.A Blessed Man of Whom God Speaks
First, a blessed man does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.
"The counsel of the wicked" stems from people who harbor evil in their heart. The wicked are incapable of harboring appropriate thoughts before God and think of things that are in violation of God's Word and that will disappoint Him.
In hatred and jealousy, they devise schemes to seek their own interests and strive to accomplish what they seek even by trampling on others. They may profess their faith in God but as they walk in the counsel of the wicked, such individuals will face calamities amidst trials and afflictions. In pursuit of fleshly thoughts, as they strive to elevate themselves and gain wealth and fame even by committing untruths, they will come across enormous difficulties and losses when deceived by others.
Therefore, one will be led onto the path to prosperity only when he lives by God's wisdom, not by the counsel of the wicked.
Second, a blessed man does not stand in the path of sinners.
In this world, a "sinner" refers to an individual who has physically violated the laws of the world. Even if one harbors hatred in his heart and a desire to kill others, as long as that intention is not carried out physically, the world does not condemn him as a sinner. God, however, condemns an individual as a sinner only for harboring evil in his heart.
One cannot enter heaven when he commits deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). He may confess with his lips, "Lord, I believe" but if he fails to live by God's will he cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21). Whether small or big, a sin will be exposed and retribution will surely follow (Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
As the path of sinners is the path of judgment and the path of death, a blessed man will never stand in the path of sinners, associate with them, or become one with them in the heart.
Third, a blessed man does not sit in the seat of scoffers.
God loathes scoffers. They are afflicted in the heart when they feel others disregard them with contempt, and instead of serving others they wish to be served.
Although Jesus existed in the form of God, He came into this lowly world in the form of a servant, took up the cross, and became an example of service. Only when an individual humbles himself and serves others will he be revered by others in this world and deemed precious in the kingdom of heaven as well.
Fourth, a blessed man delights in the law of the LORD and meditates it day and night.
Here, "the law of the Lord" refers to God's Word in the Bible. The Word in the Bible tells us the kind of blessings that will be bestowed upon those who abide by the Law and tells us also of the disasters that will befall those who fail to live by the Law. By helping us to understand and reminding us of God's Word, the Holy Spirit guides us onto the path of blessings.
Therefore, if you are in love with God, you will do things that please Him and will take after His heart. You will desire goodness, love, holiness, and sincerity. Furthermore, as God's love is in us, we will seek the benefits of our brothers and sisters in Christ in a heart of meekness and service.
When we meditate God's Law, we can examine ourselves and receive by prayer the strength to actively live His will. When we live by the Word, we can receive blessings God gives us.
2.Becoming a Blessed Man
God, who recompenses each person according to his deeds, prepares appropriate blessings according to the kind and size of the vessel he prepares. The type of heart determines the type of vessel; therefore, the spirit must prosper first, subdue and rule over the heart. An individual who can subdue and rule over his heart can also subdue and control his tongue. As he always abides by God's Word, the person will not compromise with unrighteousness or befriend the world.
Psalm 1:3 reads, "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers." Here, the pronoun "He" refers to the blessed man, the righteous man and "a tree firmly planted by streams of water" signifies an individual planted in God. A tree firmly planted by streams of water absorbs the water and is supplied with necessary nutrients even during the worst of droughts. The tree's leaves are always verdant and it bears fruit at appropriate times.
When an individual is planted in God, just as a tree is provided with water and nutrients, His Word will enter his heart and take root in it by the help of the Holy Spirit. As he commits all of his affairs and thoughts to God and lives wholly by His will, his spirit prospers and he bears the Nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the fruit of the light, (Ephesians 5:9), and fruit of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), and the fruit of the "Love Chapter" (1 Corinthians 13). The amount and magnitude of fruit will determine the amount and magnitude of blessings.
The first Psalm also speaks of the wicked who distance themselves from God.
Psalm 1:4-5 tell us, "The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous." Just as chaff are unable to withstand the wind or are burned, the wicked will not be able to endure the judgment and be driven to destruction.
Here, "the wind" refers to trials and afflictions. Even in times of trials and afflictions, the righteous prevail because God watches over them; even when they face enormous calamities against which the might of man is futile, God will deliver them. As the righteous pray by faith and live by the truth, God will show them a way out and trials will end up becoming a source of blessings for them.
The wicked, however, "are like chaff which the wind drives away"; when they come across trials and afflictions, they will sway back and forth and will end up falling, unable to remain standing in the judgment, and be driven to destruction. As they do not believe in God, they are not protected by Him. Even if they do believe in God, as they fail to live by the Word their end is death, unable to avoid the judgment of the fiery hell (Revelation 20:12).
Psalm 1:6 tells us, "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish." Even in this world, when we live by God's Word, we can lead lives marked by blessings God recognizes. The penalty for the wicked is the judgment; even the most trivial of the matters will be judged and recompensed, and they will perish. For this reason, each of us must plant ourselves in God, the source of blessings, receive the blessings of prosperity in our spirits and in every affairs (3 John 1:2), and bear abundant fruit both in spirit and in flesh.
The true righteous people whom God recognizes are not those who merely know Him, but those who possess true faith by which deeds are accompanied. Thus, it is essential for each of us to become a truly blessed man living according to God's Word by possessing true faith.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, by understanding that gaining eternal life is the fundamental goal, may each of you lead a prosperous life in this world by becoming a blessed individual who places hope in heaven and lives by God's Word, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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