Psalm 128

1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!

So, yesterday our Psalmist said "unless the Lord build our house, we labor in vain."

Today, he says there are blessings for "those who fear the Lord."

These psalms are like opposite sides of the same coin. Look at the promises if we truly follow God's desires for our life:
1. We will enjoy the fruits of our labor...we will be prosperous.
2. Our family will be vigorous and fruitful...for generations.

"Well", we say "God hasn't taken a close look at my life lately..."

A lot is said these days around the subject of "when bad things happen to good people." And of course...our friend Job is the textbook (Biblical) example. We're quick to point out the reality that fearing the Lord is no guarantee of a troublefree life..

So...are we making God a liar?

Well, maybe we're confusing issues. In fact...in another Psalm...we are told "the righteous will have many troubles, but the Lord will help them through all of them." So, apparantly we're not supposed to confuse "prosperity and fruitfulness" with "trouble free." To do so only leads to disappointment.

Remember Job? His friends said "curse God and die!" (some great friends, huh?) Yet Job said "though He slay me, yet will I trust him."

Prosperity and fruitfulness cannot be measured in time and space like wealth or health. It's very important that we avoid taking a short view...looking at current trouble...and wonder if God is trustworthy. The long view...that God always takes...restored Job to greater fruitfulness and prosperity than he ever dreamed.

Live boldly out there today...