In 2010, Forrest Fenn, a millionaire art gallery owner from Santa Fe, New Mexico, self-published a memoir entitled The Thrill of the Chase. In his book, Fenn mentioned that he had buried a treasure chest somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. This treasure chest supposedly contained gold nuggets, rare coins, and gemstones. It was estimated to be worth close to 2 million dollars. Fenn stated that The Thrill of the Chase contained clues that could lead someone to discover the treasure chest, and if they found it, the treasure was theirs. It didn’t take long for the story to get out. Thousands of people went in search for the treasure; five even died in their pursuit. In 2020, a medical student from Michigan found Fenn’s treasure.
Anyone who has seen The Goonies or one of the Indiana Jones movies can imagine “the thrill of the chase” as you go in search of something of immense value. Interestingly, Jesus once described the kingdom of heaven as “treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). In many ways, the Bible is like the map that leads us to discover the treasure that is the kingdom of God. The Bible not only reveals who God is and what he is accomplishing in creation, but it also teaches us how we can experience a life of flourishing. This is why the Psalmist said that the Word of God is to be more desired than gold (Psalm 19:10).
With this in mind, I want to make a bold statement: Your engagement with God’s Word will be the primary factor in whether you experience a life of flourishing or not. Far more than your education or your good looks or how funny you are, what you decide to do with the Bible and how you choose to interact with it will determine your level of holistic prosperity in life. Consider Psalm 1:1-4 has to say about the one who is blessed:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
In this Psalm, David identifies two sources of influence in our lives and the respective outcomes of that influence. The first source of influence is the “words of the world.” The Psalmist describes a man venturing deeper and deeper down a pathway that is filled with the influence of those who reject God’s authority. These could be the man’s friends or associates. Today, they might even be social media influencers, talk radio personalities, musicians, politicians, or the like. Regardless, they are people who use their words to influence others. Unfortunately, their influence is demonic because it leads people away from a humble submission to the Lord. The Psalmist says that the more we venture down this path, the more our lives become like chaff – useless for God’s bigger purposes in the world.
However, there is another source of influence available to us – the “words of the Lord.” The person who delights in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night has determined that it is far more trustworthy and profitable than the words of men. Those whose lives are significantly guided by Scripture are described as fruit-bearing trees that bring blessing to others. The Psalmist writes, “In all that he does, he prospers.” Every aspect of this person’s life (relationally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically, eternally) could be flourishing. This is not some version of the health and wealth “gospel,” it is the truth that God’s Word alone can lead us to a life that is truly prosperous. Blessing comes from our engagement with and obedience to the Bible.
So, how does one measure which source of influence (the “word of the world” or the “words of the Lord”) has more impact on their life? Two questions can be beneficial: 1) Which source of influence do I spend more time with? and 2) Which source of influence do I delight in? Look at how much time you spend listening to certain kinds of music and whether the lyrics of that music honor Jesus or not. Consider whether you truly “delight” in reading the Bible or whether you find it drudgery. Take inventory of who you are listening to on a regular basis via TV, radio, podcasts, social media, etc. As you examine the influences in your life, be honest with yourself and be willing to turn aside from the chaff-producing sources. Ask the Lord to renew your love for His Word that you may experience the abundant life that He came to give you (John 10:10).