by Randal Matheny

Good ole Ben Franklin was sometimes wiser than he knew. In the 1737 edition of Poor Richard's Almanack, he wrote, "To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals." Recent research suggests that a main factor in longevity is a pared-down diet. (Spells doom for a lot of us.)

Which reminds me that the very opposite is true of spiritual life.

A rich, constant diet of God's words brings a full-bodied, long-lasting life with the Lord. As long as eternity.

The Psalmist meditated day and night on the Word. In order to have success and prosperity all the days of his life, Joshua was told, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night" (Josh. 1:8).

Christians of all ages and maturity levels also should be so thirsty for the word that they act like newborns longing for the pure milk of the word (1 Pet. 1:1-3). (Note: The point of comparison is the great desire, not the newness of being born.)

God's people, then, are spiritual gluttons. They can't get enough of his Word. Not for it's own sake, but to know the Lord and, as Joshua heard, "so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it" (Josh. 1:8).

But there's more.

Mr. Spock, of Star Trek fame, parts with, "Live long and prosper." He offers no tips how to do it, just a nice wish. The Bible, however, is specific.

And it's all wrapped up in relationships.

First, fear God and keep his commandments "that your days may be prolonged" (Deut. 6:2).

Second, keep human relationships right, especially with your parents. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you" (Ex. 20:12). In case you think that was Old Testament, Paul repeats it with the note that this is "the first commandment with a promise," apparently still in force for Christians (Eph. 6:23).

May we then paraphrase good ole Ben's wisdom?

"To lengthen thy life, feed upon the Word in great helpings, fear and obey the Lord, and honor all thy fellow men, beginning with thy parents."

Maybe not as pithy as the original, but just as true.