Scripture: Psalm 128:1–2
1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways.
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. (NRSVUE)
Observation:
The fear of the Lord is vital to our way of life. We are called to walk in the ways of the Lord day by day. As we follow Him, we become busy with the work He has given us to do. There is something good about hard work, especially when we begin to see the fruit of our labor. The psalmist connects walking in God’s ways with fruitful labor, and the joy that comes from seeing what has been accomplished.
Application:
The ultimate authority in our lives comes from the Lord. Throughout the ages, we have received instruction through the written Word of God. The Scriptures provide us with a roadmap for following God and living our lives in accordance with His teaching. This concept of fear is really about reverence and respect for divine authority in our lives. When we live every day recognizing that God is our authority, we learn to walk in His ways.
And walking in His ways should make a difference in how we live and work.
His ways must be lived out practically in the life of a Christian. We are a people who work and labor, not because God is forcing us to, but because this is part of who we were created to be. When we follow God’s ways, our labor becomes more than simply getting things done. It becomes an opportunity to participate in His good purposes. And there is joy in seeing the fruit of that labor.
My husband loves to mow the lawn! When I’m out of town and he’s been out mowing, he sends me pictures of the finished product! It brings him great joy to see the results of his labor. This makes him happy!
Doing physical work often brings me greater joy than a lot of mental work. I love taking a break and going outside to work in the yard as well. There’s something about being able to see the results of your work at the end of the day that brings fulfillment.
How many times in the Word do we encounter words like “joy” and “happy”? God really does want to bring us joy and happiness, but it begins with reverence for Him and a willingness to walk in His ways. When we follow God’s direction, our lives can bear fruit, and there is joy in that fruitfulness.
Of course, not all the fruit of our labor is immediately visible. Sometimes we work faithfully for years before seeing the results. Sometimes others will enjoy the fruit of what we have done. But the promise of the psalm reminds us that there is blessing in living and working according to God’s purposes.
His ways truly are the best ways. And sometimes, at the end of the day, we can look back and say, “Wow! Look what got done today!” Then we can give God all the praise and glory—and be happy.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the pathways You place before us. Help us to joyfully follow You and Your direction in our lives. May our labor be fruitful because we are walking in Your ways, and may we always recognize Your hand at work in all that we do. Amen.
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