Prosperous Life

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Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

What sort of assurance should the child of God take from this passage? Are we reading about a particular man, or is the psalmist instructing us on who is blessed and who is not? What is the blessing here? Does it really include prosperous living?

We, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, can have assurance that God's blessing will be upon us when we keep our feet from the paths of wickedness and instead walk where the Word of God directs our steps. When our delight is in the law of God and we regularly saturate our minds with His instruction, we are considered blessed. We are like fruitful, healthy trees. The sap of the Holy Spirit works through us, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians and elsewhere. Our thoughts, words, and deeds reflect the heart of God as revealed in His Word.

The reason the psalmist can say that "whatever he doeth shall prosper" is that our "doing" will be in conformity with the will of God. This is not a promise that we can have every good and service at our fingertips as long as we pray earnestly for it. The prosperity in view here is not the newest, fanciest car and the largest, most palatial home. The prosperity in view here is life itself. All that I do is prosperous because I measure my prosperity in terms of being alive in Christ and enjoying God.

The Bible addresses, in several places, those who give too much attention to material prosperity. The Scriptures don't even acknowledge such a pursuit as being prosperous.

Luke 15:12-13
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Misunderstanding the phrase from Psalm 1:3 can lead to this riotous living which leaves a man wanting. The premise of blessing in Psalm 1 is a delight in the law of God and meditation in His law day and night. Those who truly delight in God will indeed be prosperous. Those who delight in material prosperity will end up wishing for the husks that swine eat.

Praise be to the one true and living God who reigns. Praise be to the Lord who blesses those who delight in Him and meditate upon His law. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.