JustDad.Blog

What are the most important things needed to live a good life?

My thoughts on this hinge on what we mean by the word good… I say this because there is some confusion over what it means…. And I want to be clear.

Some of my readers may come from a religious context… some less so.

Regardless of where you come from I want to be clear AND I would like to bring us to the table in unity where possible.

The Hebrew word for “good” is טוֹב (ṭôwb, tobe)

The first time it shows up is in Genesis 1 where God declares creation good. Every time he makes something he declares it tobe.

According to Strongs Dictionary it means: pleasant, agreeable, good

With this definition in mind. I would like to highlight a passage from the Bible:

“He has told you, humanity, what is good, and what Adonai is seeking from you: Only to practice justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
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Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭TLV

Putting this together….Micah highlights that what God requires is the same as what is pleasant, agreeable, and good…

Now I recognize that we may have different definitions of what is pleasant, agreeable, and good…. But what God asks of us IS supposed to be pleasant, agreeable, and good to us.

He highlights three things that are central

1. Practice Justice/Act Justly: a.k.a do what is right… a.k.a treat other people well… Jesus said it this way: “treat others as you would want to be treated”1

2. Love mercy: even when someone wrongs you… delight to forgive them.

3. Walk humbly with your God: Whereas the first two focus on how we treat others… this last one speaks to a relationship with God.

The word humbly in the original language implies a submissive relationship. Submissive isn’t exactly humanities favorite word.

I believe God wants a much deeper relationship with us than we can possibly comprehend… but it is a relationship with a Wise King. To walk in relationship with Him implies we listen to Him….demands that we place trust in His ways.

His ways ARE first exceptionally loving.

Jesus healed lepers. Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. Tax collectors in that day tended to make their money by taking it from others. They weren’t exactly well liked.

One of those tax collectors. A man named Levi (who we know as Matthew) gave up everything to follow Jesus…

Another named Zacchaus does this after meeting Jesus:

“But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord. “Look, Master, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have somehow cheated anyone, I repay four times as much!””
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Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭8‬ ‭TLV‬‬

I share this because walking with Jesus…. Will tend to lead you to give up everything to have Him.

Jesus once told this story:

““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. Upon finding a pearl of great value, he went out and sold all that he had and bought it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭45‬-‭46‬ ‭TLV‬‬

He is the pearl of great price. He is the one you have been looking for all your life.

And when you meet Him… truly meet Him… and see Him for who He is… you will agree with me that His ways are pleasant, agreeable, and good… even if it costs you everything….

Because you will have Him…. And He is worth it

Footnotes

1. Matthew 7:12