He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. ~Psalm 1:3
Have you ever seen a head of state, a famous actor, or any world-renowned person traveling alone? No, I haven’t either.
Whenever you catch a glimpse of these folks in an airport, on the late news, or see their photographs on the internet, there are always several people quietly standing in the background. So, who are these shadow people in the stars’ entourages?
In the vernacular, these silent bystanders are called “handlers.” And even though they seem to have nothing to say, they play an important role in the life of the person they work for. When the minicams and smartphones turn away, the microphones are turned off, and the crowds dissipate, these handlers become counselors, sounding boards to the stars. And more often than you and I would ever suspect, when an important person says or does something foolish, it’s caused by one thing: bad advice. When this happens, you know he’s probably chosen the wrong people to stand behind him.
The message of this first psalm is clear. Everyone—famous people and ordinary guys like you and me—has a handler. We must choose ours carefully. Happy is the man who doesn’t seek advice from wicked people.
Happy is the man who doesn’t live—voluntarily align himself—with sinners. And happy is the man who doesn’t let cynics chart his life’s course.
The man who carefully selects his handlers because of their integrity, their obedience to God’s Word, and their humble faith is a happy man. When he comes to them with the “what-do-you-think-I-should-do-here” questions, he’ll get the right input. He’ll get the truth. (Not surprisingly, as it turns out, sound advice comes from people who have good handlers of their own!)
Who is in your entourage? Who stands in the shadows behind you? To whom do you go for input? Are they pointing you to God’s wisdom? And who are their advisers?
If you and I were to stand in the lobby of our town’s largest sports-themed restaurant and ask men what they want most in life, most of them would tell us they want to be happy. Today, David gives us the secret. Don’t hang out with stupid people. Find good handlers. Get good advice from men whose character is rooted in the truth of God’s Word and a daily walk with Him. It’s a surefire formula for happiness.