How To Be Blessed
Psalm 1:1-6
A 47 year old Austrian man named Karl Rabeder gave away his entire 4.7 million dollar fortune. He came to the realization that his wealth and lavish spending were keeping him from real life and happiness. He told the Daily Telegraph that he had the feeling he was working as a slave for things that the did not wish for or need. It was the biggest shock in my life when I realized how horrible, soulless and without feeling the "five star lifestyle is. His money now funds several charities that he set up to help people in Latin America. (Source: Our Daily Bread)
Many people think that if they just had more money they would be happy. Karl Rabeder would tell you that money does not bring happiness. In fact there a majority of people who win the lottery would tell you that their life was better before their financial windfall.
It seems that everyone is looking for happiness. Some think they will find it in the right job. Some think that if they find the right companion they will be happy. Some are so desperate to find happiness that they look to a bottle or some recreational drug. Many people spend money that they don't have on bigger houses and newer cars in an attempt to fill that void that is in their life. For a while it may seem that they have found what they were looking for. But then the new wears off and their search continues.
I come bearing good news... you can find happiness, in fact you can find something better than happiness ...you can be blessed. Sometimes blessing is translated as "happy", but it's more than that. Blessing is an inner satisfaction that does not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. When we walk with God we can find "joy unspeakable and full of glory".
In this first Psalm God tells us how that we can be blessed. I would like to walk through this passage and consider that very thought... "How To Be Blessed".
The Psalmist tells us that "Those who do not follow the advice of the wicked will be blessed", "Those who refuses to stand with sinners will be blessed", "Those who will not join in with the mockers will be blessed" and "Those who delight in the Law of God and meditate upon it will be blessed."
I don't know about you but I want to be blessed. Fortunately God's word tells us how this is possible. As we consider "How To Be Blessed" let us first see that:
I. IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST BE IN THE RIGHT PLACES v1
In this verse we are told …how to walk, where to stand and where to sit. There is also a contrast provided in this Psalm. We are given some insight into the danger facing the ungodly people.
In order to experience the blessings of God there are some people and places that we must avoid. Look to verse 1a as we examine the fact that:
A. WE MUST WALK IN THE RIGHT PLACES - v1a "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly"
In order to walk in the right places we must avoid the advice of the ungodly. There may be people that you love and have trusted for years who would give you advice. Though their intentions may be good, their advice most likely will be contrary to the will of God.
So where should we go to get counsel in this life? ? We can look to people like Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Solomon, Mathew, Luke, John, Peter & Paul. The reason we can trust these men is that they are simply conveying the divinely inspired, holy, infallible Word of Almighty God. If you are having problems, if you are looking for answers... don't look to the people of this world, Look to God!
Not only must we walk in the right places... verse 1 also tells us that:
B. We Must Stand In The Right Places – v1b "nor standeth in the way of sinners"
The NLT says “Oh, the joys of those who do stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers” - There are some people who profess to be saved but still go where they used to go! They proclaim that they have been born again but they still do what they used to do! There are countless people who claim that they have been transformed by the power of God but they have no desire to be in God’s house, they do not long to fellowship with God’s people, they fail to praise God’s Holy name, they do not serve Him faithfully, they never study His Word and they neglect to call on His name. Even worse they run around with the people of this world and do things that are contrary to God's will.
Paul says in - 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
We are not to isolate ourselves from the lost man. In fact we are to reach out to them, we should witness to them, but at the same time we are called to live Holy and separate lives.
We must walk in the right places and avoid the wrong ones. We must stand in the right places and avoid the wrong ones, and the Psalmist warns that we must sit in the right places as well.
C. We Must Sit In The Right Places - v1c "nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
Notice the downward progression that is revealed - First he is walking, then he is standing... now he is sitting. We see the ungodly, the sinner and the scornful. The ungodly man has his counsel, the sinner has his way and the scorner has his seat.
Adam Clarke says - "The scorner has brought, in reference to himself, all religion and moral feeling to an end. He has sat down—is utterly confirmed in impiety, and makes a mock at sin. His conscience is seared; and he is a believer in all unbelief.
God says "blessed is he who sits not down in his seat". - Do you want to live the blessed life? Watch where you walk, watch where you stand and watch where you sit.
- We can enjoy the blessings of God when we are in the right places. Moving on to verse 2 we see that
II. IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST FOCUS ON THE RIGHT THINGS v2-3
The Psalmist declares that the blessed man will shun wicked influences and he will cling to the Word of God. If we expect to be blessed... the Bible must have a place of prominence in our lives. Notice:
A. WE MUST FOCUS ON THE SCRIPTURES - v2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The man described in this verse is one who is genuinely in love with the Word of God. The Bible isn’t a Book of fables, myths and legends. It is the Word of Truth. It is in the scriptures that we find what is necessary to grow and prosper for Jesus. Verse 3 tells us that:
B. WE WILL PROSPER THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES
- The Word of God will provide us with many benefits.
1) THE SCRIPTURES PROVIDE STRENGTH – v3a he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
A tree planted by the river is green & healthy because it is close to the life giving resource of water. Trees that are planted by the water are the strongest of trees. We are to put down roots in the scriptures and draw strength from this life giving resource. The more we read, study and meditate upon the Word of God, the stronger we will grow.
- We also see that:
2) THE SCRIPTURES PROVIDE STABILITY – v3b that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither;
The Christian who lives close to God will never be dry and wilted. He will be vibrant, lively and productive. This life brings droughts, but a drought doesn’t affect a tree planted by the river! The droughts of life will not destroy you if you remain close to the life giving resource of Jesus Christ!
- Verse 3 also shows us that the scriptures will bring:
3) THE SCRIPTURES PROVIDE SUCCESS – v3b bringeth forth his fruit in his season… v3c and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Notice the phrase - "Brings forth fruit" – The believer who draws from the scriptures will be fruitful. This nourishment of the Word of God will make this Christian very strong in the spirit. This will help the Child of God to bear fruit.
Jesus tells us in John 15:8 that “the Father is glorified, when we bear much fruit” - He also tells us how to accomplish this - John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
We are planted in Christ! He is our source of life and like that tree planted by the river we must draw from Him and one major way we do this is through the scriptures. When we spend time in the Word we are headed down the path that leads to blessing.
- IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST BE IN THE RIGHT PLACES and IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST FOCUS ON THE RIGHT THINGS, and as we move to verse 6 we will see that IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST TRUST IN THE RIGHT PERSON.
III. IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED WE MUST TRUST IN THE RIGHT PERSON - v6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:
This verse literally means that “The Lord watches over the path of the righteous”
- Notice what God says in - Psalms 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
This does not mean that we will not encounter difficulty on this path. But we can have confidence that we will never face trouble alone! The Psalms tell us that we can confidently look to God to protect us.
Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Verse 6 says that "the LORD knows the way of the righteous". This speaks to the personal intimacy and involvement that God has with His children. He knows our name, He knows the number of hairs on our head, He knows what tomorrow holds for us and He knows everything that we are facing. Not only does He know... HE CARES! And He wants what is best for us.
So instead of looking to the people or the things of this world. If we want to be blessed we must look to the right person. We must put our faith, hope and trust in the Lord. Folks, many blessings are available to those who belong to the Lord. But in order to experience those many blessings:
i. We Must Be In The Right Places
ii. We Must Focus On The Right Things
iii. We Must Trust In The Right Person
