In principle, everyone wants a flourishing life. They want to experience a prosperous and fruitful life. The Psalms connect with this desire in the human heart. The very first psalm gives us a song about the flourishing life. Many other psalms continue the same theme. For example, Psalm 128:3–4 says, “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”
Psalm 112 is another one of those psalms. It speaks of a flourishing life in terms that we can easily recognize. It describes the flourishing life as one in which our children do well, our houses have wealth and resources, our reputation is secure, and our emotions are stable. This is what we want. The problem is that we go about getting these things in the wrong way. We make these things ends in themselves rather than byproducts and blessings that flow from where our focus should be.
This psalm corrects our conception. It teaches us the true nature of the flourishing life. The flourishing life begins and ends with God Himself. He is the way to a flourishing life. A life focused on Him is the way to these blessings. “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands” (Psalm 112:1). The blessing of a flourishing life is given to those who think great thoughts of God and His Word. They not only read and listen to what He says, they delight in it. Out of this high esteem for God flows a confident trust in the Lord that leads to an astonishing level of peace. “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7).
However, it is not just a focus on God that leads to the flourishing life. Out of this reliance on God flows a generous and gracious disposition toward people. This is the effect of a proper relationship with God that truly delights in Him. The Lord “is gracious and compassionate” (Ps. 111:4), and those who delight in Him become like Him, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous” (Ps. 112:4). They are generous and lend freely.
So, contrary to the common expectation, our life does not flourish by focusing on the good things of this world or pursuing them. Rather, the flourishing life is one that is wide open to God and wide open to bless those around us. This is the flourishing life. It is flourishing because it is nourished by the Lord like the sun nourishes a plan, and it gives its fruit, good works towards others.
Lastly, notice how this Psalm begins: praise the Lord! If there are people that flourish, it is His gift. If He gives us many gifts, it is because He has already given us the gift of faith. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be the glory forever. Amen!