LA DOLCÉ VITA/THE GOOD LIFE

King Solomon is perhaps one man whom you can say has, ‘been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, lost it, found it, burnt it.’ He had it all. He not only had wisdom, but exceedingly great understanding (1 Kings 4:29a). He was a very compassionate man (1 Kings 4:29b). He ruled an extremely large kingdom (1 Kings 4:21 & 24). He never had to go to war and lived in peace all his life (1 Kings 4:25). He was famous and respected (1 Kings 4:34). People from all over his kingdom paid very high taxes (1 Kings 4:22-23) making him the richest guy to have ever lived. All cups and plates in his crib were made of pure gold (1 Kings 10:21) and the silver in his kingdom is equated to the amount of stones outside (1 Kings 10:27). He had more than his fair share of ‘female companions’ (1 Kings 11:3). Some would say, ‘this is la dolcé vita (the good life)’.

Solomon did not see it that way. He was really depressed. He took a look at all he had and studied life in his kingdom. He studied work (Ecc 1:3-11), human achievement (Ecc 1:12-17), pleasure (Ecc 2:1-17), human wisdom (Ecc 6:10-11:6) and the like. Everything people considered ‘good’. He then compiled his studies in a book in the Bible titled Ecclesiastes. He concluded that every thing he had and all that people lived for is perishable; does not have eternal gain; does not provide permanent profit. He did not say it was not enjoyable. After all, God made everything to be enjoyed in its appropriate time (Ecc 3:11). He said nothing lasted and therefore was not worth building a life around. He did not consider his life as ‘the good life’.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all (Ecc 12:13).

To fear God is not akin to fearing heights, small spaces or clowns. It is reverently acknowledging Him and living under His rule without compromise. God is a loving father. All children with a good dad know what it is to fear dad. Fear Him in that sense, never wanting to do anything outside His will. To fear God is to hate evil (Pro 8:13). It is the beginning of all wisdom (Ps 111:10); a treasure (Isa 33:6); a fountain of life (Pro 14:27); and a source of strong confidence (Pro 14:26).

To keep God’s commandments is fundamentally to love God and Love people (Matt 22:37-40). But, let us not only love in word and tongue but in deed (1 John 3:18). Do not live in judgement of non-Christians. Just love them; actively. Do not live in judgement of other Christians (it happens). Love them even if they do things differently. You can have all that King Solomon had; be the best at what you do; the brightest spark in the flame; the most talented musician in the band; and blessed with every spiritual gift possible but without love, it amounts to nothing (1 Cor 13:1-7 paraphrased). This is a good place to start when you want to follow all God commands.

Live a life in fear of God and live a life of love. If we live in this way, we can enjoy everything that God has put on earth for us according to His design. Even if we have all that Solomon had, we can enjoy it knowing that our relationship with God is an eternal one. This is la dolcé vita. This is not a problem free life, but a relationship with an Overcomer (John 16:33b). Not just the good life, but the God life. We cannot fully be satisfied with the creation, without the council of the Creator (Mark Driscoll).

Feel free to follow my blog and to leave your comments. And always remember LOL (Love God; Obey Him; Love People).

With Love

Yunam

Faith & Truth

We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) NIV

In Dan Brown’s famous (or infamous) book, The Da Vinci Code, the main character, Robert Langdon, utters the following words, “Every faith in the world is based on fabrication... Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school... Should we wave a flag and tell the Buddhists that we have proof the Buddha did not come from a lotus blossom? Or that Jesus was not born of a literal virgin birth? Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical (p341-342).”He also defines faith as, “acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove (p451).” Sadly, this is how many people see faith. That it is not necessarily linked to absolute truth but relative truth i.e. Somthing can be true for you; but it’s not true for everyone. 

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. (Heb 11:1) MSG

Faith, is not based on what we hope is true, but on truth itself. Having faith in God is simply trusting God. The seven wonders of the ancient world include the Great Pyramid of Giza which is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. The seven wonders of the medieval world include Stonehenge which is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and The Empire State Building is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It is true, that all of these structures exist, but many of us have never seen them. We simply believe that they are there because of litereture, pistures, videos ect. This is, by definition, what faith is. Believing in something that is true; even though you have not seen it. It is not believing in a myth and thus making it true for yourself.

Jesus, God incarnate, really came down to earth and was born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-38). He literally lived amongst humans and was really tempted in every way (Heb 4:15). He actually died on the cross (John 19) so that we can be reconciled with God the Father (2 Cor 15:18). He really rose from the dead (John 20). He was really seen by more than five hundred people before he ascended, physically, (1 Cor 15:3-8) and is literally seated at the right hand of the Father (Eph 1:20). He is coming back (1 Thes 4:16). This is not true because we have faith; we have faith because this is true. The bible presents this as absolute truth and not relative truth, like Dan Brown’s quote suggests.

So, where to from here? Do you believe that the bible is literally true? If not, it’s worth investigating. Eternity is a long time. Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, and you are convicted, it’s not too late (Heb 3:15). If you do believe that the bible is the true word of God and you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then simply love God, love people and live life.

And He replied him, 'You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Do not forget to leave your comment and to live the faith life with all you have.

With Love

Yunam

The Stand

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

In the 1995 epic movie ‘Braveheart’, academy award winning director Mel Gibson portrays William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who received recognition when he lead the Scotts in the First War of Scottish Independence by opposing King Edward I of England a.k.a “Longshanks”. What is most interesting about this film, besides the fact that it takes three hours of your life to watch, is the stand Wallace made for what he believed in. Towards the end of the movie, Wallace is captured by the English and, after having refused to plead guilty to charges brought against him, is tortured in front of a hostile English crowd. He had the opportunity to stop all the torture. All he had to do was to say, “Mercy”. He stood for what he believed and absorbed the punishment even after winning over the crowd. His dying word was not mercy, but what he was fighting for the entire movie, “Freedom”.

In Ephesians 6:11, Paul encourages us to put on God’s full amour in order that we might stand against the devils schemes. He further warns us that we are not fighting against enemies of flesh and blood (Eph 6:12). It is interesting to note though, that in verse 13, he tells us to “stand our ground and after having done everything, to stand”. There seems to be an emphasis on standing. Stand, even after you have stood through the day of temptation. Stand after you have stood through trials and tribulations. Stand; even after winning the critics over. Even after you have made your point; STAND!

Standing, means to be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10). Standing is to trust that God’s promises will not fail just as they did not fail for the Israelites (Josh 21:45). It is to patiently wait on the Lord (Psalms 46:10). It is not to lose heart (2 Cor 4:16-18).

Wallace had proved his point. Everyone must have been like, “Okay, okay. We get it; Freedom! Now shut up and say mercy” But he was not doing it to prove a point. He lived for something which out lived him: Scottish independence. As Christians, we too are called to live for something that will outlive us, the kingdom of God. It is not about the ‘does and don’ts’. It must be intertwined in our daily lives. Our very being must scream, “Christ is Lord” even when the enemy bargains relief if we scream “Mercy”. Yes, even to the point of death. “... and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” (1 Pet 3:15).

Remember: If you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything.

With Love

Yunam

 

Ukwanela

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. (1 Tim 6:6 - NLT)

The Rat Race; that is the term to describe a pointless pursuit of things and in the end finding out that ultimately, you haven’t achieved anything that is of value. We are caught up in the hunt for riches which consumes us and takes over our inner most being. It dictates our thinking, directs our actions and steals one of the most precious commodities we have; our time.


This, however, was never the plan. In every man and woman, just as there is an internal need to be loved, there exists an internal need to happy, and wealth brings happiness. Or so we are told. An Australian study has found that once we are above the poverty line, money only makes a small contribution to our level of happiness. It also found that when people reach the average income level, it virtually makes no difference to our happiness. Another study found that even though people are earning more today than ever before in history (because of equal opportunities, minimum wage, raises etc.), general happiness has not increased dramatically. Studies vary as to how many lottery winners go broke after only a few years of winning millions. Most prove that around 75 and 90% file for bankruptcy. Happiness, I believe, can only be obtained through contentment.

For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied). (1 Tim 6:7-8 - AMP)

The Amplified bible defines contentment in 1 Tim 6:6 as ‘a sense of inward sufficiency’. In other words; the idea that something is enough. That sounds crazy right? I mean, can you really ever have enough? However there are great advantages to being content. Bible commentator Chuck Swindoll, highlights three important benefits of contentment i.e. it allows current enjoyment rather than constant striving, it gives us freedom to recognise and applaud another’s achievements without being overcome by envy and jealousy and it helps us develop a spirit of gratefulness. Just imagine for a second if all the energy you spend on chasing after riches was lifted off your shoulders. That will take at least ten kilos off and a couple of centimetres off your waist line.

But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. (1 Tim 6:11)

Let’s get practical. Firstly, count your blessings; you would be amazed at how much you have if you just open your eyes. Many are not lucky enough to be sitting on a chair and reading this blog. Secondly, flee from THE PURSUIT of riches. In other words run away from it, shun it. It is interesting to note however that there is nothing wrong with being rich or making a lot of money. Problems arise when we focus on the creation, and lose sight of the Creator. Lastly, pursue godliness. God knows what you need, and if you strive to be fully satisfied in Him, He will take care of you (Matt 6:31-33). He already has. He is all sufficient. 

I would love to see some comments on this one. All relevant comments will be put on my ‘further insights’ page at my discretion, even if you disagree.

With Love

Yunam