Actions That Please God

Good Morning,

While reading the last Psalm, I found a simple outline of the deeds of evil men. 

Psalm 50:17 “Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.”

vs. 18 “When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.”

vs. 19 “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.”

vs. 20 “Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.”

Considering the areas God points out in this life, I am reminded of sins that we should strive to avoid in our own lives and watch for in training our children: 

1. Hate of instruction

2. Ignoring the Bible

3. Theft

4. Moral wrong

5. Evil words

6. Deceitful words

7. Slander of family

Look back at the verses and notice how God simply points out offenses that really bother Him.  If we seek to find mercy and help from the Lord, we need to please Him to the best of our ability.   Notice the two major issues in number 1 and 2 on the list; each relates to receiving instruction.  Numbers 5, 6, and 7 have to do with our words.  In those five of seven ills, we observe two areas which are vital in our lives and the lives of our children — being teachable and having guarded speech.  James 3:8 says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” 

God concludes the passage with qualities that please Him:

vs. 23 “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”

1. Praise

2. Ordered conversation

Simple deeds can be roadblocks to shame and open doors to honorable actions.  Consider the value of praise.  It is unlikely that you will be involved in criminal activity while singing praise to God.  Few opportunities for drugs or booze are presented to someone known for singing and praising God.  Ordering our conversation means to plan and control the subjects of our conversation.  If our words are pure, clean, and God-honoring, it is unlikely that we will enter into most of the wrong deeds mentioned in verses 18-20.   If we never talk inappropriately, we are unlikely to end up in moral impropriety. 

We see God clearly outlines proper and improper behavior.  May we labor to walk straight and speak in a manner that will please God. 

Pastor