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Psalm 1 gives us a beautiful picture of a good life.
We all want to live a good life. We want to be happy. We want to be blessed. We want our lives to be meaningful and fulfilling.
The other day, I was reflecting on my life, and one thought came to my mind.
Life is good.
Of course, life is not always easy. There are problems, challenges, disappointments, and difficulties. Sometimes life can be overwhelming.
But in spite of all these things, I can still say, “Life is good.”
Today is a very special day. We are celebrating the 30th anniversary of our church.
When I look back over these thirty years, all I can say is, “Thank you.”
I have seen so much love. I have witnessed so many sacrifices. I have seen people giving their time, their energy, their resources, and their hearts to this church.
And most importantly, I have seen how God has worked among us.
There were difficult times. There were challenges that seemed almost impossible to overcome. But through it all, God has been faithful. And so, today, my heart is filled with gratitude.
You are all blessed. God wants you to be blessed. That is God’s desire for you.
This is what the prophet Jeremiah said:
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
That’s what God wants for you.
What does a good life look like?
A good life is like a tree planted by streams of water. The wicked life is like chaff driven away by the wind.
What a powerful contrast!
A tree is alive. It grows. It has roots. It receives nourishment. It produces fruit.
Chaff, on the other hand, has no roots. It has no life of its own. It is blown away wherever the wind takes it.
From this beautiful image of a tree, I see three important characteristics of a good life.
1. A Good Life Is a Rooted Life
Think about a tree. What makes a tree strong?
The roots.
The roots hold the tree firmly in place. They draw nourishment from the soil. They enable the tree to withstand strong winds and storms.
A tree without strong roots cannot survive for long. Our lives are the same. A good life must have strong roots. The principles that we live with – that is the roots of life.
Honesty. Humility. Love. Generosity. Faith. A commitment to truth.
These are not simply nice ideas. They are the roots that hold our lives together.
Chaff has no roots. It simply goes wherever the wind blows. It has no direction. No stability. No lasting foundation.
When I look back over the thirty years of our church, I realize how important these roots have been. We have experienced storms. There were moments of uncertainty. There were times when we did not know what the future would bring.
But we are still here.
Why?
Not because we were always strong. Not because we always made the right decisions. We are here because God has held us together. Our roots have been sustained by God’s faithfulness.
So do not be discouraged when storms come into your life. Do not give up simply because things become difficult. Be deeply rooted in God.
2. A Good Life Is Full of Vitality
The tree in Psalm 1 is planted by streams of water.
When you look at a healthy tree, it may appear that nothing is happening. But inside the tree, something amazing is happening. Water is being absorbed through its roots. Nutrients are moving up from the roots. Life is flowing throughout the tree.
There is constant movement. There is vitality. That is what makes the tree alive.
Our lives should be like that. There should be life flowing within us. There should be spiritual energy, movement, and vitality.
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman:
“The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
What a beautiful image! Rivers of living water flowing from within us. Jesus was speaking about the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is alive within us, our lives are not stagnant. There is movement. There is renewal. There is a power of life working within us. That is spiritual vitality.
I have seen this vitality in our church. Over these thirty years, I have seen people going through tremendous difficulties. Some struggled with illness. Some experienced financial hardship. Some lost loved ones. Some faced personal crises.
And yet, I saw them continue to worship, pray, serve, and love. Where did that strength come from?
It came from the living water of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit sustained them. And through them, the Spirit sustained this church.
A good church is not simply a church that has many activities or programs. A good church is a church where the living water of God’s Spirit continues to flow. That is the kind of church I pray we will continue to be.
3. A Good Life Is a Fruitful Life
The psalmist says:
“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” (Psalm 1:3)
A healthy tree bears fruit. The tree does not exist simply for itself. Its fruit nourishes others. Its branches provide shelter. Its leaves provide shade. Its life becomes a blessing to the world around it.
Our lives should be the same. A good life is not simply a life in which we enjoy many blessings. It is a life through which others are blessed.
For last 30 years, this church blessed many people. Khazakstan, South Africa, Madagascar, Cuba, Sioux valley, Evangel Hall, Teesdale, Rose of Sharon. So many people were blessed by this church.
I saw so many people who lived fruitful lives. Their love has shaped this community. Their sacrifices have made this church what it is today. That is why I am so thankful.
Even recently, when we needed to replace the boiler, many of you responded with generous donations.
Thank you.
God blesses us so that we can become a blessing to others.
That is what God told Abraham:
“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)
God’s blessing does not end with us. It flows through us. We receive God’s blessings, and we become a blessing to the world. That is the purpose of a good life.
How do we live a good life? Can we do it simply by trying harder? No.
We cannot create this kind of life by ourselves. A tree cannot produce its own water. It must receive water from somewhere. Its strength, vitality, and fruitfulness depend upon its connection to the source of life.
We need to be connected to God. And the psalmist teaches us how.
“But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
The word of God reveals God’s character. It reveals God’s heart. It reveals what God desires for our lives. By meditating on the Word of God, God shapes us and strengthens us.
Today, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, I want us to remember this beautiful image from Psalm 1.
A tree planted by streams of water. For thirty years, God has planted us by streams of living water. God has blessed us through this community.
But today is not simply a day to look back. It is also a day to look forward. We do not know what the next thirty years will bring. The world is changing rapidly. The church faces many challenges. There will be new difficulties and new uncertainties.
But let us not be afraid of the future. Because the source of our life has not changed.
The God who sustained us for the past thirty years will continue to be with us. What matters is that we remain planted by the streams of living water.
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