THE GOOD LIFE

THE GOOD LIFE

One of my favorite songs is the version of Tony Bennet’s classic rendition of the Song , “The Good Life”. The lyrics begin with describing the “good life as full of fun, seems to be the ideal “; the “good life lets you hide all the sadness you feel.”

Some would define the good life as having no financial worries, good health, a beautiful home with a beautiful spouse, smart kids, cars in the garage, successful business or profession.

We need to think and ponder how God provides what is good for His children. The unbeliever who denies the existence of God or plainly rejects God, thinks that whatever good life he enjoys is the result of his determined effort and ability and God has nothing to do with it. But to God’s people like the Shepherd King David, who wrote practically most of the Psalms in the Bible, God is the Giver of everything good. He tells us how our loving God and Father gives us the kind of good life if we choose to live under His care.

David Israel’s king, testified that when he called on God, He listens and responds. David said, “I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him. He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them.”(Psalm 34:4-7)

David was delivered by the Lord from his fears, troubles, and shame. What a mighty testimony. This is a powerful testimony  because as humans we are often hounded by fear, trouble, danger and deprivation. David experienced these, that he called upon the Lord and the Lord delivered him. David showed that those who trust in the Lord are saved out of their troubles, are not put to shame, and instead they are radiant with joy and satisfaction.

To whom does the Lord provide deliverance and protection? Like David, those who seek Him, who call upon Him, and those who fear Him.

A stupendous thing happens to the people of God who trust and call upon God. Those who fear and reverence God. According to David, Israel’s warrior king of great renown, the angel of the Lord encamps around God-fearing people. This is one of the few passages of Scripture which mention Angels, or Angel of the Lord. Angels are supernatural beings who act as messengers of God.  They are also sent by God to protect or deliver His people. They act as guardian angels. At times, they intervene in our affairs for our protection. In terms of Theophany, (manifestation of God that is tangible to human senses) God Himself may manifest as an Angel to humans. At times, Angels are invisible helpers and protectors. At other times the Bible records that Angels may show up visibly like a man, to perform tasks which the Almighty God commands them to do.

Has God ever responded to your needs when you called upon Him? The people of God can testify with great conviction that He did and He does. He provided for your financial needs, gave you wisdom to  make the right decisions, gave you assurance and encouragement through His Word. Or maybe He healed you of your diseases or opened up opportunities for your advancement. Like David, there are hundreds of testimonies describing the goodness of God and the good life bestowed upon them.

David proclaimed that those who take refuge in God, are blessed and could taste and see that the Lord is good. And those who fear the Lord will lack nothing, even those who seek Him will lack no good thing. What wonderful promises.

DISCONNECTEDNESS

DISCONNECTEDNESS

The alarming rise of suicides in the wealthy city state of Singapore has been reported recently. There has been a 29 percent increase in the suicide rate mostly by young people, who suffer stress and interpersonal issues.

Despite the wealth and prosperity enjoyed by its inhabitants, Singapore has a high pressure work and school environment.  There is little or insignificant emotional and interpersonal support system, adding more woes, and loneliness, to sufferers of depression in this affluent country of 5 million people. What is interesting is suicide is punishable as an offense under Singapore law, that is, if one survives the attempt, he or she may yet serve a prison term.

We may wonder why in the midst of this affluence and prosperity, in spite of high income and standard of living, the increase in spending, the comfort of material possessions, and easy access to pleasurable pursuits, unhappiness and depression seem to have increased all the more.

I am reminded of an acquaintance who once commented that if he were a rich man he would be very happy with no problems in life and all his troubles would simply go away. I doubt, however, if all his troubles would simply vanish.

In this world we will have troubles, it does not really matter whether one is rich or not. What really matters is the assurance of Christ who said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)

The Psalmist David, a King, who by the world’s standard today can be regarded as a powerful and successful figure, was a man after God’s own heart. He did not say he found happiness in his power as the anointed King of his people, or his worldly accomplishment, or possessions. He declared: “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.”  (Psalm 144:15)

Man has been designed to find fulfillment in connecting with his Creator. Man was not intended to exist in isolation. God created the human family to be the strongest support system which sustains him as he relates to others and to life in this present world. Ultimately, man’s deepest connection is his relationship with his Creator. The increasing isolation and disconnectedness of people in some affluent societies driving them to suicidal acts is too high a price to pay.

Unless man comes to the enlightened realization that there is this gaping hole of emptiness in his heart, which keeps him restless, until he finds rest in his Creator, (St. Augustine’s Confessions) joy and happiness would continue elude him.