Psalm 1

Psalm 1 (NRSV)
1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
[1]

Lord, I love the promise but, if I may be so bold, and I really do not intend to be irreverent, I do not understand. The promise is that the faithful, those who immerse themselves in the law of the Lord, will be fruitful and, “In all they do, they prosper.” Forgive my impertinence but I think that I’ve known some wonderfully faithful people who did not prosper in some ways. Lord, I have lived among modest people and they were far from wealthy, if prosperity means wealth. I have visited the poorest of the poor in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and I saw electrifying faithfulness – a contagious love for You but the prosperity of wealth had found its home in other places. To my eyes, injustice prevails and the wicked have not yet perished.

So, Lord, what is the promise? Allow me to guess. If prosperity is the ability to contribute to the Kingdom, then I saw that even among the poorest of the poor. If prosperity is the abundant life promised by Christ, a Spirit-enhanced capacity to take in life, an abundance of loving relationships, the joy of spiritual gifts used in Christ’s mission, a Spirit empowered ability to do everything with intensified purpose and power, a continuing awareness of Your presence, then I believe. Those who immerse themselves in the law of the Lord do indeed prosper in all they do.

I believe Lord. Please inform my belief. Please correct my mistakes.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

Lord, I ask you to bless:
(Offer personal prayers)
Lord, I give you thanks:
Name 5 things for which you are grateful.
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989