The Benefits of Godly Living - Proverbs 3-5 and II Corinthians 1
Many people think that living a godly life causes us to miss out on things in life. They feel restricted. The opposite is really true. Living the godly life brings the blessings of God that others do not experience. These are the benefits that come from living by God's wisdom. Solomon mentioned several of them in these chapters. When we keep God's commands, He will bless us with the benefit of length of days or a long life. In some cases, God allows a godly life to be cut short, but the principles and commands of God lead to a long life, if we follow them. They also lead to having peace. When we live a godly life we find favor in the eyes of men and of God. He directs our paths, and we have health and strength. Again, God allows some who live a godly life to experience sickness, but living by His laws leads us to good health. The same is true about having plenty. Those who live by His wisdom will have more money and possessions, because they take care of what He gives them, and He blesses what they have. There is even one more benefit mentioned in chapter 3. It is better sleep. A clear conscience is a soft pillow. There are many benefits to living a godly life. Chapter 5 gives a specific example. If we avoid sexual immorality, we miss the guilt, stress and sexually transmitted diseases, and we enjoy a secure loving relationship with our spouse that is satisfying and fulfilling. That is a great benefit of godly living that most people miss today. They think the rush of sexual immorality is exciting, but the truth is that the excitement is accompanied by many problems and pitfalls.
Paul experienced the benefits of living a godly life, and he mentioned several in II Corinthians 1. He received God's comfort for the troubles of life. It must be a terrible strain for people to face pain and death in life without God's comfort. He even had been delivered from death in Asia Minor, because God delivered him. This was the result of prayers and God's blessing to extend his days. He even said that he was seeking to live by simplicity and godly sincerity, and not fleshly wisdom. He was seeking to allow God to direct his feet just like it said in Proverbs 3:5-6. That is why Paul accomplished more in his life than most people, and he saw more of the benefits of living the godly life than most people. I pray that all of us will see the benefits of knowing God's wisdom and living by it. He wants to bless us in so many ways, if we will listen to Him. If we don't listen, He has to punish us, like the good Father He is. If we are wicked, He has to make sure, we know, and everyone knows that the wages of sin is death.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.
Paul experienced the benefits of living a godly life, and he mentioned several in II Corinthians 1. He received God's comfort for the troubles of life. It must be a terrible strain for people to face pain and death in life without God's comfort. He even had been delivered from death in Asia Minor, because God delivered him. This was the result of prayers and God's blessing to extend his days. He even said that he was seeking to live by simplicity and godly sincerity, and not fleshly wisdom. He was seeking to allow God to direct his feet just like it said in Proverbs 3:5-6. That is why Paul accomplished more in his life than most people, and he saw more of the benefits of living the godly life than most people. I pray that all of us will see the benefits of knowing God's wisdom and living by it. He wants to bless us in so many ways, if we will listen to Him. If we don't listen, He has to punish us, like the good Father He is. If we are wicked, He has to make sure, we know, and everyone knows that the wages of sin is death.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.