How to Live a Life Devoted to God

Introduction

Are you devoted to God according to His Word?

God has always been concerned with the affairs and state of those who follow Him. This concern for direct focus upon Him is revealed in the first commandment. (Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.) The same focus was affirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ) If you want to know where your focus is, examine how you spend money. What you spend money on is where your focus really is. If you spend money to buy things that are not needed but only desired, maybe your focus is on the wrong things.

Can Riches Bring Happiness?

Many people have gained riches beyond anything they will ever need. They always seem to want more and more. They like the power that money brings and they like the respect they get from others who look up to them. Even with these riches, they are not happy. I am reminded of Uncle Scrooge. he had riches and kept them locked up in a giant vault. Even with his riches he wasn't really happy. he worried all the time that someone might come and get some of his money. This caused him to check his vault constantly making sure it was all still there.

Now I ask you, where is your focus? Do you buy things just to have something to play with? Do you hoard up your money to try to gain power and respect from others who have less? You do not have to answer these questions in comments. Just answer yourself with an honest heart.

Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

The word blessed in this verse and other verses throughout the Bible means happy. The word walk suggests moving toward something. Undefiled means clean in every possible way. It means unpolluted in any way. I wrote above that money is sought after by many in the world today. They seek happiness by gaining money which in turn brings power and respect. The power and respect gained by being rich are both false. The respect is not for the one who is rich, but for the money the rich has. The power will only last temporarily because money will eventually fade away. (1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:)

Does Fulfilling Desires of the flesh Bring Happiness?

Others think fulfilling pleasures of the flesh will make them happy. They do anything they want to do in the hope of fulfilling their carnal desires. The things we think will make us happy often have the opposite affect upon us. Only a life devoted to God completely will bring happiness to us. We must give Him all that we are able to give and hide His Word in our hearts. Living a life of integrity and abstaining from potential defilements which could bring us pain and anguish.

God requires us to walk in HIs ways and abandon selfcenteredness and sensual indulgences.

Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

To keep His testimonies means we walk in His Word completely. These testimonies are often considered restricting and negative. The Psalmist says they bring blessings (happiness). Can happiness be restricting or negative? In order to keep His testimonies, we must study, understand, and hide the Word of God in our hearts. (Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. )

Why are so Many Unhappy?

Failure to read the Word of God makes it impossible to know the Word of God. It is possible to know the words of the Bible and still not know the meanings.

Understanding doesn't come in an instant. It is a process which takes time, not because God is lacking but because we lack the ability to absorb everything that God has given us. ( Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; ) Understanding comes as we are enlightened by the Word of truth. it takes time to understand. It is like a child in school. Most first grade students can't do high school algebra. Some will not get it even when they go to high school. Others will get it when the time is right (but then only if they desire to get it).

Happiness

 We must love His testimonies. If we do not love the Word of God, we will never understand it. When we understand that the Word of God comes from a God who loves us and wants to give us His best, we can then be happy and we will love His ways. It is impossible to love God and reject His Word. We read about many who say they love God, but yet they refuse to accept His Word. Let's not be like those who have no understanding. Let's be more like Lazarus who died and was comforted instead of being like the rich man who died and was in torment. Let us not be like the prodigal was before he realized where he was and who he was. It wasn't until he came to himself and realized his position in life, that he was able to come home to his father.

Finally, keeping His testimonies means to obey Him. His Word does more than just teach the mind. His Word also gives guidance and direction in life bringing us to a place where we can find peace and happiness. It isn't enough to only know His Word, but it is essential to also do His Word.