Published by Just about everything a person needs to know to live a good life can be found in the Ten Commandments and Matthew 5-7. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the Beatitudes and taught us about the Law, Anger, Heaven, Dependence on God, Judging Others, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation, Love of Enemies, and Almsgiving. He also taught us how to pray (the Lord’s Prayer).
In my opinion, the Sermon on the Mount was an updating and clarification of the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament.
We also learned about Fasting, the Answer to Prayers, False Prophets, and the True Disciple. Most importantly, He gave us the Golden Rule: Do to others what you would have them do to you. If people treated others the way they would like to be treated, at least 90% of our conflicts would be solved. Some consider this very short rule to be the eleventh commandment.
The poor, the forlorn, and the meek will inherit the Earth. Not only those who kill will be liable to judgment but so too will those who seethe with anger. Jesus took special care to update “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. Apparently, too many people in Judea were going blind and losing their teeth. So, Jesus said turn the other cheek. Instead of hating your enemy, love him.
Do not judge others unless you are prepared to be judged yourself. God will answer your prayers but on His schedule, not yours. Beware of false prophets, who you will know by the fruit of their work. Hmmm, maybe those who become rich by writing about the last days are false prophets. Not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will go to heaven; only those who do His will can go to Paradise (Good Deeds).
What God is looking for is the person who accepts Jesus as his Savior AND obeys God’s will and commandments. In other words, you must live your life in a Godly fashion. Self-help books are all well and good but realize that you have the ultimate self-improvement guide right in front of you. It is called the Holy Bible and it contains the answers to all of your questions about living the good life.
