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.

I had meant to type that I wrote tongue in cheek, where said organ seems to reside. My hurried fingers missed a brain impulse and hit the keyboard wrong, resulting in "tongue in check." I had to stop and study that one. If not a Freudian slip, perhaps a Divine Signal? Well, perhaps I'm seeing signs that were never meant, but no doubt there was a lesson.

Is it not better to have the tongue in check than the tongue in cheek?

"When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise."
--Proverbs 10:19, NIV

"A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones." --Ecclesiasticus 26.13, NAB

The translation of the Brazilian Pastoral Edition really caught my eye. Here are the original and my translation of it into English:

"Mulher graciosa alegra o marido, e com seu saber o fortalece."

"A gracious wife cheers her husband, and with her knowledge she strengthens him."

Both the first quote above, with the idea of thoughtfulness, and the second, with the wife's knowledge contributing to his strength, are true and worthy of recognition by all humble husbands.

Want to get someone's attention? Appeal to their personal interests.

Example: As far as I know, I'd never gotten a first-page mention on blogs4god. I went and read up on the moderator of the journals category, where my blog lay dormant. I discovered she teaches statistics at the Univ. of Auckland. So I sent her this email, with the title "Statistically speaking":

What are the chances you've peeked at Random Variables (http://random.antville.org) lately? You may find a blog or two of interest for your blogs4god cache.

Rolling the dice,

Randal

It worked, and she gave me a very nice mention, even with the Bradley quote put on display.

Of course, that we have top-notch, positive content might have something to do with it as well. Right, Rachel?

To be truly free, search out the truth. Embrace it fully. Expel every lie you live and tell yourself. Hunt down every misbelief, and replace it with truth. Then you will be free.

Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."