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Series: Make A Change
Title: Living the Good Life
Texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8

“Secret Fears of the Super-Rich” (The Atlantic, April 2011)Does great wealth bring fulfillment? An ambitious study by Boston College suggests not. For the first time, researchers prompted the very rich—people with fortunes in excess of $25 million—to speak candidly about their lives. The result is a surprising litany of anxieties: their sense of isolation, their worries about work and love, and most of all, their fears for their children.

The World Happiness Report. In the last report for 2019, the U.S. fell to its lowest ranking ever at 19th happiest country in the world. While we rank first in the world in Gross Domestic Product (20.49 trillion), we are, by far, not the happiest country in the world.

11 But when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I had worked so hard to achieve, I realized that it was pointless—a chasing after wind. Nothing is to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11 (CEB)

If you spend your life trying to buy happiness, you’ll end up disappointed and sad. It will be one big wasted attempt to catch something as uncatchable as the wind.

Make a Change: The Joy of Financial Freedom

At first glance, it may seem that joy is tied up with having enough money to declare yourself to be financially free. Rather, it has a lot more to do with being free of the lure of money.

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. Deuteronomy 30:15 (NRSV)

30:16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 19b...Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days…. Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19b-20 (NRSV)

So loving God is always tied to following God’s commands to treat ourselves and others lovingly, which is to do what is in our collective best interest.

1 Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways. Psalm 115:1-3 (NRSV)

"You have heard that it was said [quotes Old Testament command]”
“But I say to you….”

Jesus is changing the motivation from an external “law” that must be followed, to an internal heart motivation that is freely chosen out of love.
Jesus quotes one of the Ten Commandments, which is, “You shall not murder.” That is an external command which must be followed. But then Jesus talks about the attitude of the heart where murder begins with contempt for another human being. We murder people with our unloving and dismissive attitudes, words, and actions.

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. 35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” Matthew 22:34-39 (NRSV)

Love God, self, and neighbor. The kind of love Jesus talked about is not a feeling. It is an action that flows from a heart that has been changed. Love of God, self, and neighbor are not three different acts of love. They happen simultaneously because we were created to be one with God and each other. The good life Jesus speaks of happens when we live in His type of love.

The word zōē is used 275 times in the New Testament. It means, “fullness of life,” “real life,” or “genuine life.” It is the kind of flourishing life God intends for humanity. In that sense, it is what we would call, the good life. Jesus defines such a life as being rich in love.

10 The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life [zōē] to the fullest. John 10:10 (CEB)

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life [zōē]....” John 14:6 (CEB)

So we have to determine if we are going to follow the American path to the good life and end up spending our lives chasing the wind, or trust that Jesus’s way is the true path to the good life. Will we seek to be rich only in material wealth, or rich in love?

1. Happiness is not primarily about circumstances

50% of your happiness is based on your genetic makeup.
40% can be developed through intentional activity.
10% is based on your external circumstances you may or may not be able to control.

I have learned how to be content in any circumstance. 12 I know the experience of being in need and of having more than enough; I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance, whether full or hungry or whether having plenty or being poor. 13 I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11b-13 (CEB)

2. The experience of “Flow” is connected to happiness.

3. Money won’t buy you happiness.

Once basic needs are met, more money does not equal more happiness.

4. Happiness is found in loving community.

We are built for love and love is only possible in community.

5. Happiness comes from serving people.

6. Thankfulness and focusing on love leads to happiness.

God’s Grace leads us to be
Grateful which leads us to
Give

The good life has little to do with what we have acquired. It has little to do with success. Instead it has to do with all the little things done with great love. We are most like God when we humbly go about doing the little sacrificial acts of love that often go unnoticed. When we begin to live in Christ’s love, we stop chasing the wind.

Oh, the deeds forgotten;
oh, the works unseen
Every drink of water flowing graciously
Every tender mercy,
You're making glorious
This You have asked us
Do little things with great love
Little things with great love

Songs from Today's Service:

Open Up the Heavens by Vertical Worship
Your Love Awakens Me by Phil Wickham
Your Love Oh Lord by Third Day
God I Look to You by Bethel
Little Things With Great Love by Porter's Gate feat. Maddison Cunningham