Psalm 1: 1-2
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
What would you do if you won the lottery? That is a question that you may have heard someone answer, without your even having asked! You may have heard someone say something like, “If I ever win the lottery, I’ll do this, or buy that.” Or you may have heard it said this way, “I’d never do that unless I won the lottery!” Sometimes, this is just joking and idle talk. Sometimes it is pretty clear that the person is putting faith in the lottery for happiness.
This is a sad situation. The odds of winning the lottery are shockingly low. The return on the money spent on the lottery is so low that the lottery has been jokingly referred to as a tax on people who are bad at math. But, it isn’t just a problem for the hopeless fellow taking a hopeless chance to find happiness. It is also a problem for leaders in government who promote lotteries as a source of income. They don’t want to bring higher taxes to voters, who demand many services. So, instead of facing up to the challenge of telling people what it will cost, it is easier for them to hope a lottery with be a magical source of income that will keep everyone happy. This is just another example of trying to buy happiness.
What is particularly sad, is that God offers the most profound happiness for free! This kind of happiness is called being blessed. As Psalm 1 states, “Blessed is the man…”. How is such a person so abundantly happy?
This is the situation for the one whose, “delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” God fills us with Hope, not disappointment. God doesn’t sell us a ticket. God gives faith in Jesus. Through faith in Jesus our deep needs are met, and we are blessed.
When Jesus came to save us, He gave Himself on the cross to take away all of the false hopes, false gods, sins and delusions that rob us of life. God didn’t give us a false hope that makes us poorer. He gave us everything in Jesus and makes us rich.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
God has blessed us today. As we have delighted in the Law of the Lord, repented of our sins, and put our faith in our Lord Jesus we are rich. We can be happy, generous, and joyful in the Lord Jesus. We can truly care for others. Indeed, we are blessed.
Let us pray
I thank you Lord God heavenly Father for making me rich through the gift of your Son Jesus. Help me each day to rejoice in your gifts given to me in my baptism. Help me to turn away from the lies of the evil one which would make me focus on my emptiness and material wealth rather than the bounty you gave to me in Jesus. Help me to be generous to others, and especially help those who are struggling with feelings of hopelessness by enabling me to kind, generous and caring to them. I ask this in your name. AMEN