The Key to a
Joyous and Complete Life
Theme: Proverbs
19:23
The
fear of the Lord is the key to a joyous and complete life filled with
creativity, success, prosperity, health, peace and wholeness. By fear, Solomon means adoration and worship
of Almighty God instead of a feeling of trepidation about possible judgment and
punishment. God does not want us to
recoil in His presence. Rather, He
desires that we find security in His unfailing love, comforting presence,
unquestionable faithfulness and unending grace.
As He freely gives His unmerited favor to us, His children, out of His
limitless heart of love, God equally extends His mysterious and infinite
mercy. His love yields daily and practical
blessings enabling us to live a joyous and complete life.
Solomon
likens the fear of the Lord with life itself.
He describes exaltation and obedience to Almighty God in a vibrant and
progressive relationship as “life indeed.”
This interdependent union between God and an individual supplies him
with lifelong freedom from fear of daily provision, lack of purpose, aimless
principles and failure to progress and prosper.
Actually, anyone who wholeheartedly fears the Lord rests securely
throughout his life. Moreover, he
suffers no harm. God’s faithfulness
serves as an offensive and defensive weapon.
It is shield against the fiery darts of doubt, cynicism, ridicule,
natural disasters, health scares and emotional instability. It is a refuge amidst life’s daily tests and
trials. It is a citadel of protection
against the assault of enemies, seen and unseen. Thus, dwelling continuously in God’s presence
means persistent provision and protection.
That blessed assurance prevents suffering and secures His children
against any harm.
Furthermore,
to utilize the key to a joyous and complete life and open the door to its
vistas, a disciple fundamentally and perpetually gives thanks to Almighty God,
“the Giver of every good and perfect gift,” for His gracious and generous
bestowal of daily blessings.
Introduction
Author
of the international best-selling book, The
Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale considerably raised
popular consciousness about the benefits of spiritual progress and personal
improvement through positive thinking.
His books promote the primary idea that happiness and contentment
emerges in the lives of people who discipline their minds to convert all
thoughts into positive affirmations.
Likewise, positive people participate in favorable and empowering
conversations. Peale encourages belief
in great possibility and limitless creativity.
He challenges his readers to view obstacles as opportunities and
roadblocks as directions to a better path.
“If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade.” A positive outlook virtually assures a person
that everything will work out.
Essentially, Peale strives to help struggling persons discover the means
and methods of living a complete life.
Centuries
before Peale, King Solomon, believed to be the wisest man to have ever lived,
offers a more straightforward and enduring answer to the question relating to
how to acquire a complete and joyous life.
Simply, Solomon suggests the fear of the Lord and its consequent wisdom
as the most effective means and methods of totally enjoying daily living. Solomon credits the Lord’s wisdom as the
deliverer of Solomon’s worldwide influence and unprecedented wealth. When visited by the Lord in a dream as a
child, Solomon is given a chance to ask for anything he wants. Humbly, Solomon asks for divine wisdom and
practical guidance to lead Israel.
Because Solomon does not requests material and financial gain but God’s
help, the Lord gives Solomon his heart’s desire and limitless other
acquisitions. Consequently, Solomon
teaches others that life is meant to be filled with bountiful blessings and if
unfavorable situations arise, God always will take care of anyone who rightly
relates to Him. As Solomon greatly
values the Lord’s wisdom, Solomon lives under divine protection although a vast
army surrounds him. For anyone who
listens to and fears God, a joyous and complete life awaits.
Definition –
What is meant by a joyous and complete life?
Ancient
philosophers wrestled with this question.
What is the summum bonum in
life? Aristotle asks, “What is the
ultimate good in life?” Socrates says
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Epictetus and other Stoic thinkers suggest a person minimize pain as
much as possible. Hedonists recommend
maximum self-indulgence; “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Other Eastern thinkers pursue nirvana, a
state of extreme bliss and self-actualization.
All of these perspectives attempt to help people answer one of life’s
most demanding questions. How do we
attain a joyous and complete life?
Arguably,
there are as many correct answers to the question as people offering
responses. However, Solomon would reject
this notion of relativism. He does not
accept any answer as reasonable that excludes a vibrant and growing
relationship with Almighty God. Life,
itself, fundamentally means adoration, worship and praise of God. Hence, a joyous and complete life centers
upon God as a person’s “ultimate concern” and reason for being.
It
is also possible to answer this enduring question from both negative and
positive points of view. A joyous and
complete life definitely excludes adversity, danger and bleak experiences. A joyous person overcomes all of his fears;
renounces doubt; does not lack anything; forsakes poverty; never fails; shuns
aimlessness and defeats all adversaries.
However, excluding negative aspects does not necessarily reveal anything
positive. Actually, it leaves a
vacuum. How do we fill it? With what do we fill it?
Practically
speaking, what are the components of a joyous and complete life? Love and work are the two main hemispheres in
life. How does a joyous person determine
the passions of his heart? How does he
use his time? Is he able to live
peaceably with all people and in all situations? Is he capable of adhering to moral and ethical
principles despite the circumstances? Is
he a good steward of his talents, treasure and temperament in addition to his
time?
Today,
many spiritual teachers offer concrete answers and “cookie cutter” formulas in
response to those questions. They constantly
bombard the airwaves and Internet with fanciful ideas and marketable phrases
which evaporate in the heat of reality. In
stark contrast, in this eternal wisdom in Proverbs 19:23, Solomon recognizes
life’s many dimensions, components, relationships and seasons do not lend
themselves to easy and elementary answers.
Yet, its surest foundation is a relationship with Almighty God whose
love, grace, mercy and blessings supply joy and wholeness.
Proofs of a
Joyous and Complete Life
What
are the indicators of a joyous and complete life? Possibly, the list is inexhaustible. Four evident signs leap from the biblical
page when meditating upon this verse.
Righteousness which means to live in a right relationship with Almighty
God by sharing in His holiness, accepting His unconditional love, benefiting
from His grace, receiving His mercy and relying upon His faithfulness is
primary. Second, it reasonable a joyous
person devotes himself to a lifelong purpose instead of merely working in a
chosen profession; he pursues his passion as a means of earning his daily
bread. Because he works within his
passion, he attains achievement and success if not excellence. Third, he snores harmoniously when he sleeps
as he lives in total peace with everyone and within each situation. Finally, he enjoys complete freedom from all
fears and obtains victory over all vices.
Practical
Application
“The
fear of the Lord” equates with worship which is a lifestyle instead of
attendance at a collective gathering of believers. Wholehearted adoration and praise of Almighty
God requires denunciation of idolatry in all its insidious forms. We cannot serve any other gods. Accordingly, we obey God’s commands as we
live in presence as an act of our reciprocal love in exchange for His loyal,
faithful and unfailing love toward us.
We cultivate attitudes and hearts of endless thanksgiving for His
bountiful blessings. In our daily
practical of spiritual disciplines such as maintaining a prayer journal and
writing gratitude lists among other exercises to strengthen our relationships
with Him, we realize the objectives of Solomon’s wisdom in this verse. God is awesome and majesty beyond our wildest
imaginations. He offers us abundant life
filled with serenity and security. Each
day, we cannot possibly awake to any nasty surprises. No danger will befall us as we live in His
direct presence.
Conclusion
If
you accept Solomon’s suggestion regarding how to lead your life, you will not
lack anything at any time.
Further
Reflection
·
Psalm
23
·
Psalm
27
·
Psalm
42
·
Psalm
90
·
Psalm
91
·
Isaiah
40:28-31
·
Isaiah
41:10-13
·
Isaiah
42:16
·
Isaiah
43:1-3
·
Isaiah
45:3
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