Jesus, The Way To A Better Life

The popular goal of our generation is the "good life". This dream is not new. It has been the desire of every age -- of teachers and philosophers, of kings and common men. But to the truly good life, as to every other good thing, JESUS IS THE WAY.

Jesus Corrects Misconceptions

The good life is probably summed up best in the word HAPPINESS. Yet, when we think of the good life, we usually think of material prosperity, of pleasure and popularity. This is because we suppose that these are the things which bring happiness.Jesus rejects this supposition. Hear Him:

LUKE 12:15 And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

 

LUKE 6:25 "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
6:26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.

Our own personal observations agree that most wealthy, high-living and famous people are not happy. Yet we continue to seek these things and often are disappointed when Jesus does not provide them. If Jesus offered these as the way to a better life, He would be a failure.

Jesus Roots Out The Problem

God endowed man with the good life in the very beginning of time. But man lost it when he sinned. With sin came guilt, fear, pain and death. Sin is still the spoiler. Jesus said:

MARK 7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
7:22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
7:23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

Is it not true that most of the unhappiness you have known is traceable to just such sins as these? It is only in turning from sin that we can hope to find happiness.

1 PETER 3:10 For, "Let him who means to love life and see good days Refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
3:11 "And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue

Only by studying the law of Christ can we recognize sin.

1 JOHN 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Only by following the perfect example of Jesus can we avoid sin.

1 PETER 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

Imagine a life without guilt, without fear, without the anxiety that always attends a life of sin! Here, indeed, is peace that passes understanding.

Jesus Teaches Us To Seek New Goals

The goal of an unhappy world is earthly treasure. Jesus says:

MATTHEW 6:19 ¶ "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

Men are eager to receive, but reluctant to give. Jesus says:

ACTS 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Men consider it a symbol of the good life to be served. Jesus says:

MATTHEW 20:26 "It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
20:27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. "

The goals the world sets are goals which many can never achieve. Achievement does not insure happiness and those who fail to achieve them are made even more miserable by their failures.

But when our goals are changed, we can be content without those things the world considers essential; they are no longer the things we are seeking. Our contentment and happiness come with attaining our new goals, and success with these is within the reach of all. All can store up treasure in heaven, all can give, all can be servants. If there is any doubt that these do bring happiness, just look at any individual you may know who is actually practicing them.

But, wonder of wonders, there is MORE:

Jesus Gives What We Do Not Expect!

Once we learn not to make material things, pleasures and fame our goals, Jesus provides us an unexpected portion of these very things! Hear Him:

MATTHEW 6:31 "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'
6:32 "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

LUKE 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

LUKE 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

How Does Jesus Do It?

We may never know all the ways in which the Lord fulfills His promises. But one way is through the sheer wisdom of His instructions. Knowing man as He does and loving man as He does, He asks of us only those things that are good for us; and He forbids only those things that are harmful.

Our health is better when we live the pure life that Jesus teaches. We are better off financially, for we are better workers and we no longer have to pay the expensive cost of sin. Finally life is better as we learn to think first of others. And regardless of the problems and troubles we still must face, we face them with Jesus and with the hope of heaven.

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