Passages like Psalm 112 confuse me. Not because they're hard to understand, but because they seem to describe a reality that doesn’t always match what we experience. For example, the psalm says those who fear the Lord will have “wealth and riches,” that “it is well” with them, that they will never be shaken or afraid.
And yet, I’ve known faithful people who never had much money and other believers who experienced seasons that were anything but well.
So, maybe the issue isn’t the psalm but how we’re reading it.
Perhaps we need to rethink what “wealth,” “riches,” blessing, and stability mean. Our definitions might be shaped more by culture than by Scripture. It's also possible the psalmist had something deeper in mind than comfort or financial success.
But what if Psalm 112 isn’t making guarantees about outcomes at all?
Like much of wisdom literature, it’s not a contract God signs with us. It’s a picture of a path God invites us to walk.
A doctor once told me, “You can eat anything you want. You can sit around all day if you choose. But every choice leads somewhere.” Food doesn’t promise to harm you. Over time, though, your habits shape your health. You don’t stumble into wellness. You walk toward it through daily decisions.
That’s what Psalm 112 is doing.  The psalmist isn’t saying, “Fear God and life will be easy.” He’s saying, “Fear God and this is the kind of life that begins to take shape.” God’s way is a path that forms resilient and generous people. Steady people through the storms of life. Not people who never struggle, but people who know how to live well even when they do.
To be sure, you can choose other paths. We all do sometimes, don't we? But Scripture warns us to pay attention to where they lead. God’s path leads toward life, wisdom, peace, and toward a way of being in the world that reflects God’s heart.
Psalm 112 isn’t promising a problem-free life. It’s inviting us into a formed life, one shaped by trust, generosity, courage, and hope. And in the end, that may be the truest kind of blessing there is.
Stay blessed...john |
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