Dear Heavenly Father how we praise you for Your way is perfect and your word is flawless. Your love is wide and long and high and deep and it surpasses all understanding.

Father we lift up our President today. Make your word a lamp to his feet and a light for his path. Thank you for our President is your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advanced for him to do. We pray for protection for our President may he enjoy good health and may all go well with him. Let him be careful and wise in how he lives, making the most of every opportunity and understanding your will for his life.

Thank you for our courageous soldiers. Give them victory and be their shield. Guard their course and protect their ways. Lord Father you alone are faithful and it is through you that we can overcome the evil one. And we give you all the glory, honor and praise. We pray these things in your holy and precious name, Amen

November 10, 2007

The Good Life

READ: Luke 12:13-21

Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15

Driving down the highway in Houston, I passed a billboard with large letters that announced “THE GOOD LIFE!” I couldn’t wait to get closer to read the small print, which explained that the “good life” was about buying a lakefront home starting at $300,000. Which made me wonder if some unhappy families might live in those homes, with kids who never see their parents, or couples who, though living on the lake, wish they weren’t even living together.

Luke 12 came to mind as I remembered the story of the man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. That was the wrong thing to ask Jesus! He replied with a warning, “Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (v.15). He then went on to tell the story of an extremely rich man who, from God’s point of view, was a fool—not because he was successfully wealthy but because he was not rich toward God.

The sooner we get over the illusion that more stuff means more peace, happiness, and self-fulfillment, the better off we will be. And then the more able we will be to find the longed-for peace and happiness—the true “good life”—that only Jesus can provide.

O Lord, help us to be content,
Whatever we possess;
Protect us from the foolish lie
That “more” brings happiness. —Sper

The “good life” is found in the richness of God.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 48-49; Hebrews 7

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