Where to Begin a Blessed Life

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. (Psalm 1:1)

Blessed is one of those words Christians often use without understanding what it means. The Hebrew word for blessed is ‘esher. It means how happy. It can also mean fortunate, prosperous, and enviable. If you want to be so happy, fortunate, and prosperous that others envy you, where do you begin? Does that kind of life come from choosing the right profession or finding an investment that pays big? No, those things can be a part of your blessing, but a life of blessing doesn't begin in your work or on Wall Street.

The blessed life begins with choosing God’s ways over the world’s.

The word counsel in Psalm 1:1 means advice. The world's system is always ready to tell you how to do everything, from handling your relationships, raising your kids, and managing your money. But the truly blessed person won't lean on advice from Oprah or Dr. Phil or any other worldly source. Instead, to live the blessed life, you must depend on God's Word for your guidance and counsel.

The word way in Psalm 1:1 means course of life. God has a path He wants us to follow, but sinners also have a way. Their way says, “You can be a good person without going to church, studying the Word, living holy, and listening to God! It doesn’t take all that!” So when the psalmist wrote not to stand in the way of sinners, he meant don’t hang with people who don’t serve God.

Practical Application – The blessed life begins with making the right choices. To begin, choose your friends carefully! You might have some childhood friends that are living the world's way. You should reconsider your relationship with them. Are they really friends? Friends should share essential values. Involvement in your local church is a way to make new friends who will help you walk in God's ways.

Deuteronomy 8:6; Deuteronomy 10:12