Building a Life That Blesses

By Dean Collins

I won’t ask if anyone has ever told you that you look “ripped.” While some might use this phrase to suggest a person being intoxicated, generally someone who is referred to as ‘ripped’ is one who has low body fat and well-defined muscles. There are many athletes who work very hard to keep their muscle tone strong and their body fat percentage low because it is helpful in maximizing their performance in their sport.

While we don’t generally talk about it, most people want to look good. That is one of the reasons we practice good hygiene and purchase clothes that improve our appearance. We also know from various media sources, social media, and personal observation that some people become obsessed with how they look. While some may argue their obsessive dieting and exercise is for health reasons, if honesty is required, then some would admit a bit of vanity in their desire to look attractive.

We can fairly easily identify the various disciplines required to be in our best health and likely then appear attractive. But how often do we take time to consider the impact of our attitudes, behaviors, and character traits? What if these things are the qualities that attract others to know more about the Christ in us who is shaping our attitudes, behavior, and our character? And what do we know about how our righteousness might impact our family, our church, our places of work, and even our cities? 

In Proverbs 11 we discover that character and righteous living can have a tremendous impact on the people around you. In verses 9 through 14 we see the power of righteous living:

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.”

“By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.”

But in these same few verses we discover that godlessness in our speech and behavior has devastating effects on those around us: 

“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor.”

“By the mouth of the wicked it (blessing on a community) is overthrown.”

There is nothing wrong with wanting your physical appearance to be the best it can be. However, maybe if we spent some time, or even an equal amount of time, focused on being our best, then our impact would be transformative in our communities.

Being our best begins when we commit our lives to Jesus. What if today we pray the Lord’s Prayer together and then live in ways that indicate that we want God’s kingdom to come to our community just as it is in heaven? I suspect that when we do that, we will naturally turn from the destructive behaviors referenced in this passage in Proverbs. 

“Our Father who art in heaven

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever

Amen.”

Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 11:9-14 ESV

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