The Rewards of a Life Well Lived
Applying the wisdom of Micah today.
By Charles R. Swindoll
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
A life well lived honors the Lord and inspires others, but it also produces rewards for the one who lives it. At least six are significant enough to mention.
First, the sustained cultivation of exemplary character.
Day after day, year after year, the one who commits himself or herself to the pursuit of justice, kindness, and humility will most certainly develop strong character. And it won’t be merely a façade. It will be the same bone-deep beauty that drew people to Jesus Christ during his early sojourn.
Second, the continued relief of a clear conscience.
Who hasn’t tossed and turned, fretted and struggled through a night filled with feelings of guilt? The voice of our conscience is eloquent and convincing and strong. It refuses to be silenced when we know that we have compromised where integrity said we should not. When we doggedly do what is right, when we generously model kindness, and when we remain intimate with God, our conscience stays free of any nagging emotional aches. A clear conscience provides relief, freedom, and joy.
Third, the personal delight of intimacy with the Almighty.
As author Kent Hughes stated, "A transparent soul is a haven for the Spirit of God.” God is still seeking those whose hearts are fully committed to him. One way we get to know someone is to walk a mile in his shoes. To do what the Lord expects of us is to honor his values and do as his Son did. In this way, we grow in our intimacy with him.
Fourth, the high privilege of being a mentor.
It is one thing to be a teacher and leader for others, but quite another to be a mentor—someone who has earned the right to become a trusted counselor, personal coach, and guide who plays a significant role in shaping another’s life. Heroes, as crucial as they are, generally live at a distance—some have even died. But a mentor is someone who lives up close and personal, providing hands-on guidance, correction, and affirmation in face-to-face encounters. A life well lived allows us the opportunity to be a mentor.
Fifth, the crowning reward of finishing well.
As we grow older, one haunting thought that once lingered in the back of our minds begins to dominate all others. It is the fear of approaching the end of our lives beaten down, beached, and broken. In his 1925 poem "The Hollow Men,” T.?S. Eliot expressed the fear well: "This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.” I cannot think of a more dreadful thought. Yet the possibility exists, even for one who has been actively and productively engaged throughout his or her entire adult life. Even for one as influential and spiritual as the apostle Paul, the thought of finishing his life "disqualified” was neither imaginary nor remote (1 Cor. 9:27). Finishing well was Paul’s lifelong goal.
Sixth, a priceless, lingering legacy for those we love.
When we do what is right, love kindness, and walk in humility, the natural product will be a lingering legacy by which anybody would want to be remembered. Live well now and you will continue to live well in the memories of the people you value.
I have a good friend named Bob, who comes from a large, closely-knit Italian family. His father’s uncompromising integrity spread across each one of the children from their birth until his death, which came late in life. Bob has nothing but pleasant memories of being with his father, listening to his stories, watching him endure numerous trials, laughing and lingering around the supper table, and observing his tender, affectionate relationship with his wife of many decades. He was clearly the leader of their home—decisive, fair, kind, humble, joyful, and pure.
Without warning, Bob’s father died. Even though all the children were grown up and on their own, the jolt of his death was borderline unbearable. Their grief ran deep. Their hearts broke. After the funeral, it was necessary for all of them to deal with the practical matters of carrying on, which included those difficult tasks of disposing of the man’s clothing, wrapping up his financial affairs, and sifting through the remainder of his personal effects. Bob was chosen to handle that last responsibility. He would be the one to sit down and look through things that other eyes had never seen—not even Bob’s mother.
Bob was reluctant. Fear gripped him as he wondered what possible scandal or dishonor might turn up. Would he uncover some secret sin? Would he find evidence of moral compromise? Would the man’s computer reveal questionable sites he had privately viewed? Would there be a picture or love note from some mystery woman? Bob dreaded the thought of anything tarnishing the image of his father—his hero and mentor.
Though reluctant and fearful, Bob accepted the task. With cautious concern, he dug in. Hour after hour, all alone, he silently examined his deceased father’s personal belongings. He read journal entries, looked through dozens of photographs, examined financial records, thumbed through stacks of handwritten notes, unlocked private areas of his Internet activities, and read letters he had written and received. Meticulously and diligently, Bob looked through everything. To his great delight, he found nothing that was questionable or suspicious. Nothing. The man was as clean and innocent in his private life as he had been before his family and in the eyes of the public.
Bob wept for joy. The man he had admired all his life was everything he had believed him to be.
Dr. Charles R. Swindoll is chairman of Insight for Living, and author of more than 30 best-selling books. He is also chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary and senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Swindoll has devoted more than four decades to the clear, practical teaching and application of God’s Word and transforming grace. Insight for Living broadcasts his teaching to every major U.S. Christian radio market and more than 2,100 outlets worldwide. Swindoll will be a keynote speaker at the 2011 Christian Leadership Alliance National Conference in Dallas, from April 26-28 (claconference.org).
Dr. Swindoll was inspired by the words of Micah 6:8 to write A Life Well Lived (Thomas Nelson, 2007). This insightful text offers wisdom for those seeking short, specific, and relevant thoughts on the essence of life. Most of us have heard the ancient words of Micah 6:8 throughout our lives, but A Life Well Lived provides a very practical look at how these timeless and proven principles apply to those of us living and leading during the 21st century.
Swindoll also wrote A Life Well Lived Bible Companion (Thomas Nelson, 2008) to help Christians to dig deeply into God’s Word in order to apply the message of A Life Well Lived.
The theme of A Life Well Lived complements this "Equipping Today’s Ministry Leaders” edition of Outcomes since a primary need that we all have as leaders is to know that we are investing our lives in a worthwhile way that brings honor and glory to God.
Don’t miss Swindoll’s keynote address on "Equipping Today’s Ministry Leaders” during the 2011 CLA National Conference in Dallas, from April 26-28 (claconference.org).
