Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable… They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith. Psalm 112:5 (NIV)
The will of God has more to do with how we love than how well we “do.” It’s openness of heart and life that sets a person apart. Psalm 112 says, “Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable… They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith.”
Notice that after the Psalmist says, “life is good” he also says that “they will not live in fear or dread of what may come.” A good life isn’t one free of hardship or challenges. That kind of life does not exist.
The other day I was having a conversation with someone about living in peace with people, and they said to me that people who hadn’t experienced hardship as she had, could live in peace… I thought to myself, “People who haven’t experienced hardship? Do such people exist?”
No.
But there is such a thing as a good life. And it has nothing to do with how much money you earn, or what job you do, or even what happens to you. A good life is the fruit of generosity. Open hands, open hearts, as we like to say.
Psalm 112 – The Passion Translation.
“Shout in celebration of praise to the Lord!
Everyone who loves the Lord and delights in him
will cherish his words and be blessed beyond expectation!
Their descendants will be prosperous and influential.
Every generation of his godly lovers will experience his favor!
Great blessing and wealth fills the house of the wise,
for they will walk in the way of the righteous.
Even if darkness overtakes them, sunrise-brilliance
will come bursting through because they are gracious to others,
so tender and true.
Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable,
conducting affairs with honesty and truth.
Their circumstances will never shake them
and others will never forget their example.
They will not live in fear or dread of what may come,
for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith.
Steady and strong they will not be afraid,
but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat.
Never stingy and always generous to those in need,
their lives of influence and honor will never be forgotten
for they were full of good deeds!
But the wicked take one look at a life lived like this
and they grit their teeth in anger, not understanding their bliss.
The wicked slink away speechless in the darkness that falls,
where hope dies, and all their dreams fade away to nothing,
to nothing at all!”
