When I was a little kid, my mother said at times, \u201cI don\u2019t want you playing with those kids. They\u2019re fresh and you\u2019ll only get into trouble hanging around with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kids from half-decent families usually hear that warning every once in a while, and it\u2019s probably the first and best advice they will ever hear. When you know who and what to avoid, you have half of life already figured out.<\/p>\n
The psalmist knew this and expressed it nicely in Psalm 1: \u201cBlessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. . . .\u201d In other words, don\u2019t listen to those who want to drag you off into a lifestyle that can only bring you trouble. Don\u2019t take their advice. Pay no attention to their ideas. Don\u2019t let them tell you what to do.<\/p>\n
As I looked around the world when I got older, I saw that most misery was caused by a minority who unfortunately gained more influence than they were worth. In many instances, this was because well meaning but \u201cPsalm 1 illiterate\u201d people allowed themselves to be swayed by the ideas and opinions of the ungodly. The common complaint we hear so often, \u201cMy Johnny is a good boy \u2014 he just got mixed up with the wrong crowd,\u201d isn\u2019t always just a poor excuse. It might be true more often than not.<\/p>\n
The same verse (v. 1) tells me not to stand in the path of sinners or hang around with those who are always ridiculing what is right and decent. This is also great advice. Be careful about associating with those who do not hold your values \u2014 especially if their values run counter to the lifestyle commanded by the Bible, your church, or even your family upbringing. This way of living can save you a lot of headaches.<\/p>\n
This is just common sense, but it seems that God has made it an imperative. Psalm 1:1 is no longer something that is just a better idea; it has been made a fundamental necessity for sensible, godly living. Yes, you can live and get by without doing this, but you won\u2019t be living and getting by the right way. You\u2019ll be finding your satisfaction in the wrong places, whereas verse 2 says you should be finding it \u201cin the law of the Lord,\u201d or in always doing the right thing. In case there is any doubt on this issue, there is tremendous inner satisfaction in doing what you know is right.<\/em><\/p>\n Verse 2 goes on to say that God wants me to think about these things constantly. Pick up tomorrow\u2019s paper, and it becomes obvious that not many people are doing this. Most people just don\u2019t seem to care. But if you want to make out good in life, you will! From God\u2019s law (the Scriptures) you can guide your lifestyle and set your everyday standards and values. Most important, you will constantly refine them as you keep them in the forefront of your thoughts. You will gain strength and satisfaction from doing this.<\/p>\n This psalm then tells me (v. 3) that if I faithfully follow this advice, I will prosper. I will be like a fruitful and healthy tree planted by the river. I will be living the kind of life God wants to bless. Even in adversity I will find blessing because my life pleases God. How can you beat that?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ralph Filicchia<\/strong> writes from Watertown, MA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I was a little kid, my mother said at times, \u201cI don\u2019t want you playing with those kids. They\u2019re fresh and you\u2019ll only get into trouble hanging around with them.\u201d Kids from half-decent families usually hear that warning every once in a while, and it\u2019s probably the first and best advice they will ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":296,"featured_media":4661,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[1434,1432,1429,195,1430,1391,1433,804,1431],"yoast_head":"\n