Scripture repeatedly and consistently teaches that God has intended for human life to be a blessing for us. Although some people today might mistakenly view God's instructions as curtailing the supposed "good life," in actuality God has repeatedly been at work in seeking what is truly good for us.

A. The Creation

Not only does the marvelous nature of creation praise the power of the Creator, it also speaks of God's intent to serve the good of humanity. The world which God created was "very good." Genesis 1:31 Into this paradise, God provided fertile conditions and abundant food. Genesis 1:29; 2:6, 9 Noticing that it was not good for the man to be alone, God created woman to a helper. Genesis 2:18 God made mankind with the capability to enjoy His creation through touch, taste, smell and hearing. God blessed man and told him to be rule over this creation which He had made. Genesis 1:27-28 All of God's creative power testifies that He was seeking our well-being.

B. The Flood

When the quality and fabric of human life had become so totally unraveled so that relationships were thoroughly diseased with the cancers of violence and corruption (Genesis 6:11-12), God ended the madness by wiping the slate clean. Genesis 6:13, 17; 7:23

God spared a righteous seed from which life could sprout again upon the earth in the manner He had intended it to be. Genesis 6:9; 7:1, 23 Once again, God blessed man and told him to multiply upon the earth. Genesis 9:1, 7

C. The Mosaical Law

God gave the Law to be a multi-faced fountain of blessings for those who would accept entering into the covenant relationship He had provided if they would preserve this relationship by obeying its laws. The Law provided guidance for discovering the nature and contours of the life God wanted to give His people. Romans 7:10; Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 6:24; 10:12 If God's Law would be obeyed, terrible diseases would be avoided (Exodus 15:26; 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:15) and every form of fertility would be enjoyed. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 In fact, every area of their life would be blessed by God. Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Leviticus 26:3-12 It is clear that through His giving of the Law, God was seeking a means through which to bring untold blessings upon those who would pursue the life He desired man to enjoy.

D. The Voice of Wisdom from God

In Proverbs 1, wisdom is personified as calling the naive person away from destroying himself. According to wisdom, how does a person destroy himself? By ignoring what wisdom has to teach about how to live. Proverbs 2:6 reveals that the Lord is the source of wisdom. Both chapters 2 and 3 of Proverbs affirm the immense value which comes in pursuing wisdom, leaving the reader to understand that God's intent is to reveal how to live well.

E. The Life Which God Gives To The Sheep Of The Good Shepherd

Although God had already clearly communicated that His activity was rooted in seeking out our welfare, His intent is most clearly seen in God's sending of Jesus and giving him sheep. Jesus taught that whereas the thief comes only to take away whatever a person might have which is good, in stark contrast he had come in order to give an abundant life to his sheep. John 10:7-10 Similarly, whereas a hireling does not truly care about the welfare of the sheep and hence will abandon them when danger threatens, as the good shepherd Jesus would seek the well-being of the sheep by even laying down his life for them. By laying down his life, Jesus gave eternal life to his sheep. John 10:27-29

While the rest of the New Testament may not use the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep, it echoes this same message that Jesus has made it possible for a faithful disciple to receive that life which is truly life. Although each disciple is responsible for being a faithful servant of God in how he lives in order that he might receive that "life which is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 24:45-51; 25:14-30), it is Jesus who makes this gift of life possible and furthermore, inclusion in Christ is necessary for receiving this life. 2 Timothy 1:1; 2:10-12; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Ephesians 2:12-13, 19-22

F. God Provides For This Life and For Doing His Will

Through the rabbinic technique of comparison, Jesus taught that God not only is concerned about our lives but He provides what we need if we will put the kingdom first in our lives. Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31 This means that our purpose for living revolves around serving God, not building bigger silos to take care of me in the future. Luke 12:15-21

Paul also taught about God being the Source of physical blessings. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 God is described as being able to make resources abound to those who are generous so that thanksgiving might be given to God. Grace is used to describe these resources because they are a gift. 2 Corinthians 8:8, 15 This should not be construed as claiming that godliness is sure fire way to get rich quick. 1 Timothy 6:5 Rather, this section is merely pointing out that God does provide for the daily necessities of those who put Him first and that He can abundantly enable them to be a generous blessing.

G. The Quality of Life Which God Intends For Those Who Serve Him

Since a man reaps what he sows, those who seek to live by the Spirit will reap the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and eternal life. Galatians 5:22; 6:7-10 When Paul speaks of the Christian enjoying a "peace which passes understanding" that comes as a development of not being anxious about anything, (Philippians 4:6,7), he is describing the consequence of having our life and what we consider to be valuable and the goal radically transformed by Christ so that we now walk to the beat of a different drum by following the pattern of life given to us. Philippians 3:7-11, 15-21; 4:8-9 For Paul, this new way of life resulted in possessing an inner strength and security empowered by God that enabled him to be content regardless of the situation. Philippians 4:11-13

General Observations

While hardly exhaustive, these cameos from scripture reveal a God who consistently has had a deep concern for humanity's well-being both in this life as well as eternal life. Because our beliefs are at the heart of what makes us tick (see lesson one), it is imperative that people understand and believe that God is seeking our well-being through the message He has provided us in scripture. Unless we believe this truth, we will empower the evil one to tempt us to falsely believe that when I follow God's guidance I will be missing out on something good for me. And just like Eve, I will want to taste the forbidden fruit because I perceive it to be something which can enrich my life.

Discussion Questions

1. God said that nothing would be impossible for humanity as long as it was united. Genesis 11:6 Was God acting in our best interests or against them when He confused the languages at Babel? Why?
2. I know a young Christian mother who was unfaithful to her Christian husband because she thought that by not being a part of the swinging singles scene she was missing out on something. What could or should have prevented her unfaithfulness? Do you think she would have listened?
3. What can happen to a Christian who begins to doubt that God truly cares for him? Where might this lead him?
4. What other stories and texts from the Bible describe God's care for our well being?
5. How do our beliefs influence how we perceive situations, doctrines, objects, relationships, behavior, etc.? Consider Eve and the forbidden fruit or Saul of Tarsus before and after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
6. In Psalms 8, the Psalmist marvels at God's creation and then wonders why God should care so much about humanity. Why does God care so much about us?

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Barry Newton, Copyright © 2000

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