Secrets to Life
August 3, 2020
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” 1 Peter 3:10 NLT
The Secret is a best-selling 2006 self-help book by Rhonda Byrne. It is based on the belief of the law of attraction, which claims that thoughts can change a person's life directly. The key message of The Secretis that everyone has the ability to create their own reality. In other words, “thoughts can become things.” It became so popular that it is available in 50 different languages. Unfortunately, it is a misleading book. There is some biblical truth that is somewhat similar in small ways, and we get confused. Our faith is not the secret—the focus and source of our faith is the secret.
The Bible tells us over and over again that the secret to life is in our relationship with God. This is what leads to godly wisdom—seeing and living life from His perspective. In the verse above, Peter is quoting Psalm 34:12-13, where King David, Solomon’s father, reflected on one of the secrets to enjoying life. All of us can attest to this truth: What comes out of our mouths has so much to do with the quality of our lives. Solomon’s wisdom, even before Ecclesiastes, speaks volumes about the impact that truthfulness has on our lives and happiness. Here are some examples:
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Proverbs 15:2 NKJV
The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, and the heart of fools [is] not right. Proverbs 15:7 YLT
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips. Proverbs 16:23 NKJV
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. Proverbs 18:6-7 NIV
Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,and the work of their hands brings them reward.
Proverbs 12:13-14 NIV
- Pray: Father, as I seek to live my one and only life in a way that honors You and brings me joy, help me embrace this secret to life and keep my speech uplifting and truthful. Amen.