God's Rules for Life

God has laid down the rules for a happy and fulfilling life, and we need to obey Him if we want to live a truly happy life. In 1 Peter 3:10-11 we are told, "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it." Peter tells us in the very next verse the reasons for doing these things. He says, "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). 

God also tells us how to have a successful marriage and a happy family. Ephesians 5:22 says, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her..." Again, Ephesians 5:33 says, "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." 

In Ephesians 6:1-3 God says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." Furthermore, Ephesians 6:4 says, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." 

God tells us how to be successful workers. Colossians 3:22-23 says, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." 

As we look at these things, let us consider the ultimate reward. Let us serve God in the way He ordained because not only will things be better for us here on earth, but in the end we will be given eternal life. That is the reward for following God's rules for life. There is no better time than now, the beginning of a new year, to ensure that we follow the teaching of God's Word!