PSALM 1:1-6

"You only go around once in life, so you’ve got to grab for all the gusto you can." Some of us remember that television commercial. But, what exactly is gusto? Well, according to my dictionary, it means "vigorous enjoyment, zest." Good stuff, but where do we find it? Well, according to that commercial, it is by drinking a certain brand of beer. Now, that is certainly a bizarre claim, and I am not going to even spend time refuting it. But the question that commercial raised is very important. As human beings we are on a quest for gusto, but it is a commodity in rather short supply. In our culture many people find a certain degree of happiness in the comfortable lives they lead, but that happiness tends to be very shallow. Not too far below the surface they often struggle with boredom, disenchantment and even despair. I often think of what one of the Dallas Cowboys said after winning Super Bowl XXX. As he sat in the locker room an hour after the game, he asked, "Now, who do we get to play next?" Even our most magnificent achievements seldom bring total satisfaction. Straight A’s on a report card, scoring the winning touchdown, buying a new dress, getting a promotion at work, all make us happy for a few hours, maybe even a few days, but that feeling doesn’t last. Where do we go to find gusto, to find real joy in life?

Friends, today we are going to look at the Bible’s answer to that question. Our text will be Psalm 1:1-6. Here we find a description of the "blessed" individual. What does that word mean? Well, the Hebrew word "hesher" could also be translated "joyous, deeply happy, blissful, even full of gusto." Thus, I like to say that this passage teaches that true gusto is found in godliness. Let’s pause and pray that as we explore God’s Word today, He will show us how we can find true satisfaction in life.

How do we find gusto in life? What road can we take? The psalmist begins by telling us that the road to avoid is ungodly counsel. I might say, "If you want to go to Hibbing from here, don’t turn east on Highway 169. That road will get you to Virginia, not to Hibbing." In the same way, the Lord says, "If you want to find joy and gusto, don’t go this way." Psalm 1:1 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. These three all have much in common, and they are all roads to avoid. The wicked, sinners, and mockers are all people in rebellion against God. In our day mockers or scoffers seem to be becoming more and more plentiful. On many television sitcoms and other shows, Christianity is ridiculed. It seems that conservative Christians are often the target of jokes and verbal abuse. We need to realize how evil that is because those people are not just making fun of us, they are often making fun of God. Those folks think they are going to find gusto in living in rebellion against the Lord, but they are mistaken. Oh, initially it may look like the right road to take. There are signs that say, "This way to gusto" but these roads are paved with money, sex, and power and are really dead ends. I remember one woman saying to me, "Pastor Dan, I thought if I just left my husband for someone else, everything would be better. Now I realize I will never be happy again." Friends, rebellion against God will not bring happiness in this life and certainly will not bring