“Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.”
Psalm 65:11 KJV
“It was possible that I might be cut off from the land of living;
It is your grace that you gave me one more opportunity.”
It is not within our control to enter into the next year, the next day or the next moment. It is all due to the grace of God that He gives us moment by moment, and then turns the days and moments into many years. And, we pay no attention to this gift of grace. We run after the major and minor joys, the comforts and ambitions to make our lives enjoyable and we forget that if we gain the whole world and loose our own soul, then, what is the use of it?
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gains the whole world, and loses himself, or be cast away?”
Luke 9:25 KJV
This is the most grievous mistake of man, that in order to make his life easy, prosperous, beautiful and bountiful, that he becomes so busy and then he forgets that it is his Creator who gave him life.
Is there anyone who does not want his life to be bountiful and prosperous?
It is very sad that everyone unsuccessfully tries in his own way to make his life enjoyable.
There are those who think that to be wealthy is actually the foundation, the base, of a bountiful life. And then others who want to enjoy life through their physical pleasures.
For some people it is their life’s goal is to reach a specific country because they believe that bounty, prosperity and joy are only possible in this way.
Others desire to be in a relationship with someone particular and believe that if they can just be close that person, then life will be full of thrills and joy.
But this is very sad; it does not take place this way.
Love, ambition, desire and the craving for wealth can make all people senseless and can even cause us to lose touch with the meaning of relationships. It can cause us to become ignorant about our bodies and our health, all in order to achieve wealth.
The person who lives in search of joy, prosperity or bounty is deceived.
When I look at a business man who has abundantly, excessively made money, I logically think that he has enough wealth. And also, that he can enjoy every good gift of this world. But when I ask him with this regard, he responds to me, saying, “How I can enjoy?” The business has expanded so much; I do not have time even for my own family.”
From the worldly viewpoint, the word bounty means to have things for your personal satisfaction, joy, and extreme happiness. The meaning of word almost sounds like the person who had bounty is in a trance in order to enjoy his bounty.
Yes, a person can be happy, joyful and excited as he looks at beautiful, natural scenes.
Yes, the fellowship of a particular person can make someone happy.
Any experience can make someone happy, excited and joyful.
But when we see these things from the standpoint of Scripture, we see that there is a difference. According to the Bible, bounty means real joy, real happiness, and hearty satisfaction. Above all, bounty is prosperity and the blessings that come from God. If God is our life giver, then He is the one who makes our lives enjoyable.
Let us contemplate how David, the prophet, understood this excellent mystery and deep truth when he says:
“Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.”
Dear friends, our faithful Heavenly Father’s desire is for us to also have lives that are bountiful, prosperous and full of blessings.
In this passage, Lord Jesus Christ expounded the purpose of his coming to this earth:
“… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10 KJV
It is so very tragic that there are people who are living the Christian life but there is no “life in this life”, and then there are others who have the life, but it is without abundance.
It is easy for man to fall prey to the misunderstanding that abundant life means to have every desire fulfilled, but this is incorrect.
Abundant life is found in the presence of God. And, as the blessings of God are with us, we become a source of His blessings for others.
God does not make only a moment of joyful bounty for us; He does not grant us joy only through an experience, an incident or a person. God crowns the whole year with bounty of joy for us.
It is one thing to enter into the New Year and to enjoy it. But, in order to enjoy it, we can trust in our worldly luxuries…or we can lift up our eyes toward the great, unique, supreme Creator and Master of this Universe.
Now the question that arises is this:
How does God crown our years with bounty and with goodness?
“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”
1 Peter 3:10 KJV
“Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
1 Peter 3:11 KJV
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
1 Peter 3:12 KJV
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?”
1 Peter 3:13 KJV
Our life is a collection of several years, and each and every year is the collection of several days.
Here we see the Apostle Peter talking about joy and good days, and then about how it is possible for us to achieve them:
Although, by his grace, mercy and goodness God crowns our year with his goodness and bounty but before granting us an annual award, he demands obedience from us.
And then, the second part of Psalm 65:11, and thy paths dropped fatness, is explained.
In the holy Word of God, fat or oil indicates prosperity, wealth, riches and abundance. The blessings and the prosperity can be attained by walking in the paths of the Lord.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:6 KJV
“God be merciful unto us and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us.”
Psalm 67:1 KJV
“That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.”
Psalm 67:2 KJV
Yes, man can acknowledge him in all his ways because he has shown himself unto man. God has shown his ways on the earth. Our Savior Lord Jesus Christ himself said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 KJV
Lord Jesus Christ is the Way, and the Truth and the Life.
By following Him, by walking on His footsteps, we are blessed. Fatness drops in his paths.
Saint Peter says, we are the people of God but if we want to be happy in our lives and want to see good days then we must follow these words.
We receive many other suggestions by reading the Word of God.
Dear Friends, let us contemplate these practical things which Saint Peter has mentioned. And, not only should we contemplate them, but in every moment of our lives we should practically adopt them.
Let us keep away our tongue from evil and our lips from hypocrisy.
Life and death are in the control of tongue.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Proverbs 18:21 KJV
Our tongue can destroy our reputation. We can injure someone with our tongue.
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
Proverbs 12:18 KJV
Saint James, in the third chapter of his epistle, describes the tongue as a fire, and yet says that the right usage of our tongue can become a source of life and a blessing.
If we use our tongue as a sword and fire, then how can we expect that God will crown our year with goodness and bounty?
Be away from evil and practice goodness.
If we spend our lives according to our own will, then we will have no discernment about evil and virtue. In which case, we cannot expect God to make our lives enjoyable since we are living and behaving according to our own thoughts.
The return of evil will be evil. Whatever we will sow, so shall we reap. Evil begets evil.
That is why it is essential that in each and every moment of the day, we should not refrain or restrain ourselves from doing well.
Be at peace, look for peace.
As our Lord Jesus Christ made our peace with God, and in the same manner, we must sustain peace with one another.
Sometimes people claim their love for God and their personal relationship with the Lord. But then, even as members of the same Church, they are not on good terms with each other. If within our Church family, we are not at peace with one another, then how can we enjoy our lives?
Will we see good days? Will God crown our year with bounty and goodness?
Never.
We should keep on asking God
In order to fill our lives with real joy and divine blessings, which are essential, we must pray without ceasing. We must spend time with God in prayer and also study the Holy Bible in order to know God’s will for us.
We must pray in order to fulfill the will of God. We must bring before God our thanksgiving, our supplications and our worries, all in prayer.
Certainly, God will bless us.
We can also say with confidence that God crowns my year with his goodness and bounty.
May Lord make the year 2015, the year of blessings and joys.
And that, our Lord Jesus Christ may receive glory, through your life.
By Robinson Samuel Gill
Blessings.
