3 Things To Do If You Want To Prosper

The title of this blog sounds a lot like every blogger on Pinterest. Do this to make extra money, sell that and pay off your debts, etc. I have followed a ton of them and many of the blogs I've read have great ideas for changing one's financial situation.

In Psalm 1, the author, David, contrasts the lives of a godly man and an ungodly man. He gives specific instructions for those who desire to be happy and prosper in life. Instead of being just another blogger, this writer went from being a shepherd to King over Israel. A real rags-to-riches story.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But, his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law does he meditate day and night.

He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does will prosper.

Verse 1 starts off right where we want to be...

Blessed. The Amplified version of the Bible defines blessed as happy, prosperous, fortunate, enviable, and favored by God. Who wants to be blessed?

Blessed is the man (or person) who:

1) Does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly (Listening to what they say)

As believers, our whole world should be centered around God. In Acts 17:28, Paul writes In Him we live, and move, and have our being...To be counseled by someone who does not know God is unwise. This person, while well-intentioned, may give advice contrary to what God has for us.

2 Chronicles 22 tells the story of Ahaziah who became king over Judah. His mother was from the house of Ahab, who was wicked, and she advised him to do evil in the sight of the Lord. Verse 4 says, "So he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, resulting in his destruction.

2) Does not stand in the path of sinners (Doing what they do)

Listening to ungodly counsel can lead to doing ungodly things. Proverbs 4:14 puts it this way, Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not go the way of wicked men. Proverbs 13:20 He who walks as a companion with wise men, will be wise; but companions of conceited, dull-witted fools are fools themselves and will experience harm.

3) Does not sit in the seat of the scornful (Acting the way they act)

Doing ungodly things causes us to become prideful, thinking we are better than others and know better than God what is best for us. When you compromise in one area, you soon compromise in more important areas.

The Hebrew translation of "of the scornful" is to boast, scorn, mock, or be inflated. Those who are self-important often make fun of authority, other people, and even the truth of God's Word.

Proverbs 1:22 asks the questions that need to be asked...

How long, O naive ones, you who are easily misled, will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers, who ridicule and deride, delight in scoffing? How long will fools, who obstinately mock truth, hate knowledge? Verse 32 says For the turning away of the naïve will kill them and the careless ease of self-righteous fools will destroy them.

God makes fools of the scornful. Proverbs 3:34 says He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners. Yet, He gives grace, His undeserved favor, to the humble who give up self-importance.

But, wait! There's more!

When you happily follow God's way and meditate on His Word, you will be like a tree planted by rivers of water (Jeremiah 17:8):

1) That brings forth its fruit in its season

I believe the Lord WANTS us to prosper and produce fruit. Timing is everything.

In the natural, we eat watermelon, citrus, and berries in the summer. Why? Because they aid in hydration. Our bodies don't require the same hydration in winter as we do in summer. In the winter, we grow and eat things like winter squash, sweet potatoes, turnips, pumpkins, and rutabagas because these are warming foods.

As we pray and wait for things to come about in our lives, we can rest knowing God will bring those things about at the right time, when it will benefit us the most.

2) Whose leaf shall not wither

It is disheartening to try to grow a plant from seed and, just when you think it's going to be ok, suddenly its leaves begin to wither. Soon, the whole plant dies. God's desire for us is to come to full maturity. He knows living a life to please Him will ultimately make us happier than anything the world offers us.

3) Whatever he does shall prosper

It doesn't get much clearer than that. If you leave the things of the world behind and follow the Lord, you will prosper.

When we stop listening to, living like, and acting like those that don't know God, good things will happen in our lives. God will bless us with the things we need and the things we desire at the exact right time. He will bring us to full maturity in Him and not allow us to wither up and die. And, He will prosper us spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, in our relationships, in our work, etc.

I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19