THE THRIVING LIFE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. 11:28

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. 11:30

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. 12:14

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. 13:2

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. 18:20

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

Proverbs 11:28, 11:30, 12:14, 13:2, 18:20, 22:1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

How would you describe your life?

Great? Good? Maybe groundhog day? Maybe hard?

Ask the question and you’ll be sure to get a variety of responses as everyone’s life experience will be different. But one thing I think that would be common would be everyone’s desire to live a life that is thriving, a life that gives a person a sense of reward each and every day.

So where does one find this kind of life, a life that thrives?

The world would suggest that this kind of life comes from wealth and success and status, that thriving results from having it all. But as we typically see, the Bible doesn’t quite agree with the world’s way of doing business. So what can we learn from God’s word about what it takes to thrive? Look at this proverb from the wise man known as Solomon:

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

Right from the very first one, look at what we learn. Trust in riches and you’re placing your hope for thriving in the wrong place. For thriving doesn’t come in material gain but rather spiritual gain through righteousness, a righteousness we receive when we place our faith, hope, trust, and yes our life, in the hands of Jesus, the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life, the only One who can bring us to God the Father to share life now and forever.

Have a personal relationship with Christ and you will thrive from the righteousness He leads you into. That’s the key to living the thriving life. Here are the reasons why:

1. Living in righteousness bears fruit that brings life.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. Proverbs 11:30

When you choose to live in righteousness, you choose life to the fullest. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b) and He delivers on that promise for everyone who allows Him to guide them to the thriving life. But the beauty of this isn’t found just in the fruit that is harvested in the life of the one choosing righteousness. It’s found in the countless others that the righteous person impacts through living the thriving life in Christ. Our second point highlights this.

2. Living in righteousness leads us to do good to others through our words.

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. Proverbs 12:14

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. Proverbs 13:2

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. Proverbs 18:20

The words of one who chooses the righteousness found in Jesus Christ are not their own but of Christ Himself. Jesus talked to His disciples and shared with them that when they needed words to say, He would provide them. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of a believer, Christ still speaks through His disciples today, providing fruitful words to those who receive them, words that often bring people to the thriving life themselves as they choose to receive Jesus in their own lives and receive the salvation He freely offers.

And when it comes to the matter of being satisfied, there’s nothing more joyful than knowing you are making the difference in the life of another person with the fruits your mouth and lips bring to others. By blessing others, you feel blessed as well and this leads to point 3.

3. Living in righteousness brings blessing.

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. Proverbs 12:14

Living the thriving life of righteousness through Christ and bearing the fruits that come along with it brings all the rewards that come with living in the Lord’s favor. He blesses those who respond to His will and way in obedience and the selfless lifestyle that comes from the thriving life of righteousness not only blesses the believer but as an extension, all they come into contact with. And that leads to the final point.

4. Living in righteousness leads one to a good reputation.

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

When you live the thriving life of righteousness, you establish a reputation as someone who does right and compassionately sacrifices for the goodwill of others, the very qualities found in Jesus. People also see you as the kind of person they want to model their lives after as you stand out as different from the world.  So through your righteous way of living, you help lead others to the same kind of thriving life. It’s little wonder then why the scriptures place a good name as more desirable than the greatest riches of the world.

Friends, in my own life, I have lived by the world’s standards and I have lived by Christ’s standards and I can say with full confidence that there is no more thriving life than the life full lived for Jesus Christ. Today and every day, this is my prayer for every person on earth, that they might find their way to life and life to the fullest through Jesus Christ and I pray The Christian Walk blog helps to that end.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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