What A Life

Sheila Alldredge
January 22, 2008
Lillie Reed
January 24, 2008
Sheila Alldredge
January 22, 2008
Lillie Reed
January 24, 2008

‘Nine Requisites for Contented Living’ apply to us today


Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), the German poet, novelist and philosopher, has left us with a formula for happy living.

He called it “Nine Requisites for Contented Living.” They are:


“Health enough to make work a pleasure.


“Wealth enough to support your needs.

“Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.


“Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.


“Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

“Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.


“Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.


“Faith enough to make real the things of God.

“Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.”


Goethe has supplied us with a great deal of wisdom to help bring fulfillment into our lives. Let us look at these nine points more closely.


“Health enough to make work a pleasure.”

In the Book of Genesis, work is often understood as a curse for Adam and Eve’s sin. God said, “Cursed be the ground because of you! In toil shall you eat its yield all the days of your life.” (Gen. 3:17) It is not work that is cursed but the ground. Earlier in Genesis 2:15 it says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” Work was part of human nature. The curse was the “weeds” that got in the way.


Work should be a creative part of our lives. If our health is not good, we might not feel like working. Keeping our bodies healthy is important so we can be creative in our work.

“Wealth enough to support your needs.”

People in poverty spent most of their time trying to “make ends meet.” People who run after riches often neglect the more important aspects of life like God and family. “Wealth enough” is well said. The Hollywood celebrities are not the happiest people in the world.

“Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.” We all need that power from above to help us overcome our trials and difficulties. Jesus told us, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-30) Christ helps us carry our crosses.

“Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.”

When we make a mistake, we need to admit our wrongdoing, ask for forgiveness and move on. God forgives us. We have to learn to forgive ourselves.

“Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.”

Christians are not called to succeed but to be faithful to our tasks. We may never see the results of our good works.

“Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.”

We all are a combination of good and evil. We should try to find the good in people. The bad qualities are usually obvious.

“Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.”

True happiness consists not in what we have but what we do for others.

“Faith enough to make real the things of God.”

Do we believe that we are on a journey from God to God? Do we believe that this is God’s world? Do we see God in all aspects of life not just in church on Sundays?

“Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.”

I quoted Jose Addison last week when he said, “Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” Without hope we are totally lost.