What is the good life? Drive down the road, and you’ll see fitness centres with this name. Get the body you want and feel good about yourself. Listen to people talk and they will express the desire to be happy. Do a search online and you will come across life hacks and wiki tips on what you can do to live a good life. Forget regret. Minimize. Be Content. Be Yourself. Be Kind. Seize the day.
Even yesterday, I was speaking to a professional who was concerned about her 20 something son’s discontentment about life, work, and relationships. He wanted it all. It just seemed out of his grasp. And this sounds like all of us. Everyone wants the good life, but it seems to be so difficult to attain. It feels like Ecclesiastes is so true – life is a vapour, a mist.
And yet, the Old Testament book of Proverbs actually points us towards the good life. It’s a book that people love for its practicality. It has the compiled sayings of Solomon, Agur, Lemuel, and those who are wise. It was the training manual for those who would serve in high positions of influence. It speaks practically about how we should talk, listen, interact with others. It shows us the danger of foolish choices and the blessings of good choices. It gives discerning tips on family and friendship dynamics, about how to treat the poor and live a just life, how to be self-controlled and how to enjoy life. It doesn’t shy away from money, sex, and power. It knows that the good life is rooted in the fear of the Lord. The good life is rooted in wisdom – learning to live skillfully. If you would hear, wisdom cries out and offers herself to all who would listen and follow.
So often, people want to know what to do for the Christian life. They hear about how they need rest for their souls by trusting in what Christ has done for them, not what they have to do. Yet they still ask, “What do I need to do?” Proverbs tells us what to do – the fear of the Lord will start you on the path to the good life. And in walking in the ways of Proverbs, you might just find that there’s rest for your soul.
Do you want to know what to do? What will bring about the good life? I’m looking forward to a journey through one of the most practical books of the Bible during this ministry year. I hope you’ll join me as we journey in the fear of the Lord to the good life.
See you Sunday!
Andrew
