We long to live a life above our circumstances. We desire stability in difficult times and fruitfulness from our labors. This longing engenders the question, “How do I experience a life of fruitfulness?” The Psalmist gives us a picture of the type of person who experiences a fruitful life. First, he describes what this person does not do,
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! (Psalm 1:1)
Notice the progression of sin that is depicted, the person may start out walking with the wicked, but then he lingers or stands with sinners and finally he is content with sitting with the scoffers. We cannot expect God’s blessings if we’re comfortable with sin in our lives. The Psalmist then reveals the heart of the person that God blesses,
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
The Hebrew word for meditate, הָגָה hâgâh, conveys the idea to murmur,ponder, or ruminate. This is the picture of a cow chewing her cud. The result of a person who meditates upon God’s word is a life of fruitfulness,
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:3)
Verse three is a beautiful picture of a fruitful life – we see stability in adversity, vitality in its season, and prosperity in his endeavors. The wicked; however, are in stark contrast to the stability of the righteous,
The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. (Psalm 1:4-5)
Rather than a life characterized by stability and prosperity, the wicked are blown away like the husks from the kernels of wheat.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:6)
Are you experiencing a fruitful life? God’s words to Joshua may be the advice you need to enable you to experience a fruitful life,
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8)
Associate Pastor – Discipleship. The Church at LifePark
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
Follow me on twitter: rickhiggins5
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