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How To Enjoy A Long, Good Life

Do you want a long, good life? This sounds like a question one would ask at the beginning of a commercial for a Miracle Product, doesn't it? There are many products out on the market today offering longevity of life, oftentimes at a very steep price without any guarantee that the product will work.

Did you know that the Bible also has a formula to follow in order to live long and happily? Yes, that's right! As long as we act according to God's designated principles, we are guaranteed length of days along with prosperity and true happiness.


In Psalm 34:12, David asked the question - "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?"

In other words, who wants to live long and contentedly? Who loves days and wishes that they may be prolonged and multiplied? Who desires to enjoy prosperity or find happiness on this earth?

There are several Scriptures throughout the Bible which mention the lengthening of our days. They are as follows -

Deuteronomy 6:2 - "That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged."

Deuteronomy 30:20 - "That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days..."

Psalm 91:14, 16 - "Because he hath set his love upon Me...With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation."

Notice what brings about the lengthening of our days - fearing the Lord, keeping all His commandments, loving Him or setting our love upon Him, obeying His voice, and cleaving unto Him. If we do these things, we are promised prolonged days on this earth.

In his question in Psalm 34:12, David brought up an interesting point - "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?"

What is the basic desire of this man who loves life? He wants to "see good." In other words, he wants to enjoy prosperity, happiness, and the good things of this life.

In Psalm 4:6, David mentioned this same concern of mankind - "There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?"
Solomon addressed this same issue in Ecclesiastes 6:6 - "Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good..."
Again, we read the words of the Prophet Amos in Amos 5:14, calling men to "Seek good...that ye may live."

All men want a long, good life, but all do not know how to find it.

The Bible gives us the answer. Already we have seen through several Scriptural directives that the true and only way, generally speaking, to a long life and true happiness is in keeping a good conscience - fearing and loving God, keeping His commandments, and cleaving unto Him.

In Psalm 34, we find that David does not only ask the question - Who wants to enjoy a long, good life? - but he gives some directives to follow in order to reach this goal.

1. Watch Your Tongue

Psalm 34:13 - "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."

One of the methods of lengthening our lives is to guard our tongue from speaking wrong things.
We must be very careful as to what we say so that we speak not amiss.
We must always and evermore speak the Truth and avoid all falsehood, slander, deceit, and evil speaking - avoiding all language that would bring injury to others or wrong them in any way.
We should never deceive others; make false, exaggerated statements; make promises we never intend to keep; or flatter others.

• In Psalm 39:1, David expressed his determination to watch over his tongue - "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me."

• James 1:19 - The Apostle James admonished us to be "slow to speak"

• James 3:2 - and to "offend not in word."

• James 3:6 - He warned us that our tongues are a "fire, a world of iniquity" that "defileth the whole body."

• Proverbs 12:17 - Solomon warned us that a "false witness" is one who speaks "deceit." Also, in...

• Proverbs 12:22, he expressed God's sentiments on "lying lips" - "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD..."

• Proverbs 19:9 - And again, "...he that speaketh lies shall perish."

• 1 Peter 2:1 - The Apostle Peter admonished us to "lay aside all...guile...and all evil speakings.."

2. Turn From Sin

Psalm 34:14 - "Depart from evil..."

Another method of lengthening our lives is to leave all sin and resolve to have nothing to do with it ever again. Turn aside, avoid, be removed from, and put away all evil - whether it be evil works or evil workers.

• Job 28:28 - In the Book of Job, we read that "to depart from evil is understanding."

• Proverbs 3:7 - In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon told us to "fear the LORD, and depart from evil"

• Proverbs 13:14 - and to "depart from the snares of death." He also said in ...

• Proverbs 16:17 that "The highway of the upright is to depart from evil..."

• Isaiah 1:16 - Through the Prophet Isaiah, God charged us to "put away the evil of your doings...cease to do evil."

The Apostle Paul told us in

• Romans 12:9 - "Abhor that which is evil"

• and in 2 Timothy 2:19 - "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

3. Spend Your Time In Doing Good

Psalm 34:14 - "...do good..."

A third method of lengthening our lives is to do good to all people in all relations of life. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:10 tells us - "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

In Titus 2:14, he exhorts us to be "zealous of good works."
The Apostle John in 3 John 1:11 says "...follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God..."

4. Try To Live In Peace With Everyone

Psalm 34:14 - "...seek peace, and pursue it."

A final method of lengthening our lives is to strive to live in peace with all mankind. Follow after peace. Make it an object of utmost desire. Put forth a constant effort to live in peace with everyone.

• Matthew 5:9 - The Lord Jesus said - "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

• Romans 12:18 - The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "live peaceably with all men,"

• Romans 14:19 - "...follow after the things which make for peace...",

• 2 Corinthians 13:11 - "live in peace,"

• Hebrews 12:14 - and "follow peace with all men."

(It is important to note at this time that we are not saying that if someone's life is shortened through illness, tragedy, or simply because it was God's Will that they were disobedient or in sin. Generally speaking, these principles apply to all. There are and will be found exceptions - the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, martyrs, etc.)

Nowadays everyone is looking for appropriate advice on how to live a long, good life.
What will you tell them?

Why not give them David's four methods for the lengthening of their days -
Watch Your Tongue,
Turn From Sin,
Spend Your Time in Doing Good,
and Try to Live in Peace With Everyone.

Unlike the methods suggested by the world, these are guaranteed to work - They are God's means to a long and lasting life.

Psalm 18:30 - And "As for God, His way is perfect..."



May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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