September 30

If we were to take a poll and ask just one question—“What does it take to be happy?”—the answers we would receive would traverse a wide gamut of people’s perception of what constitutes happiness. The poor would answer that having wealth would make them happy.

The wealthy would contend that having riches simply makes the trials of life more comfortable. People with undiscovered talent would contend that getting their ‘big break’ would make them happy. Those thwarted in their ambition would be sure that getting the promotion they deserved would make them happy.

The Bible has a different answer entirely. In Psalm 128:1 we are told, “Blessed is the man who fears and worships the Lord, the man who walks in His way and lives according to His commandments.” Though the things that happen in our lives can impact our existence for good or for ill, it is only our relationship with the Lord that can make us truly blessed.

And note, the blessings that follow those who are committed to Jesus are set in motion by the man himself! By walking as the Lord would have him to walk, by worshipping Jesus in the beauty of holiness, by obeying His righteous dictates, a man assures himself of the blessings that transcend his circumstances and extend beyond this mere mortal realm and tap into eternity.