Does God Want You To Be Happy?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever heard the question “Does God want you to be happy?” Some people would think it is intuitively yes, but is it? That is what we are going to talk about today and at the end, I pray you all will see the serious implications that question has and what God really wants for our lives.
Have you ever heard the question “Does God want you to be happy?” Some people would think it is intuitively yes, but is it? That is what we are going to talk about today and at the end, I pray you all will see the serious implications that question has and what God really wants for our lives.
Let’s start with the term Happy. Merriam-Webster defines the term HAPPY as: (1) favored by luck or fortune, (2) notably fitting, effective or well adapted, and (3) characterized by well-being[1]. Those all sound good, right? Desirable? It orients us to the “Good Life.” But does God want us favored by luck or fortune? That is something for us to consider.
Let’s start with the term Happy. Merriam-Webster defines the term HAPPY as: (1) favored by luck or fortune, (2) notably fitting, effective or well adapted, and (3) characterized by well-being[1]. Those all sound good, right? Desirable? It orients us to the “Good Life.” But does God want us favored by luck or fortune? That is something for us to consider.
Digging deeper, the origins of the term happy can be traced back to the Old Norse term HAPP to around 1200 which meant, "chance, a person's luck, fortune, fate;" also "unforeseen occurrence,"[2] The connotation here focuses on randomness, coincidence, and fate. Does God want us to attribute our well-being to coincidence?
Digging deeper, the origins of the term happy can be traced back to the Old Norse term HAPP to around 1200 which meant, "chance, a person's luck, fortune, fate;" also "unforeseen occurrence,"[2] The connotation here focuses on randomness, coincidence, and fate. Does God want us to attribute our well-being to coincidence?
Narrative/Proofs
Narrative/Proofs
The idea of God wanting us to be happy has infiltrated the church in the form of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, a term coined by Sociologist Christian Smith and Melinda Denton to describe an emerging set of statutes that sound Christian but are not. According to MTD, the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself[3].
The idea of God wanting us to be happy has infiltrated the church in the form of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, a term coined by Sociologist Christian Smith and Melinda Denton to describe an emerging set of statutes that sound Christian but are not. According to MTD, the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself[3].
As Christians, is happiness the central goal? Are we called to go into the world and be happy? Are we to judge the “goodness” of our lives by the moments of good fortune and the emotions they conjure? Do we focus on chasing an external source for contentment? The answer to those questions can be found in the Bible! The Bible repeatedly discusses the concept of Joy, not happiness. Joy is eternal and happiness is temporal. Joy comes from within us, not from external circumstances as with happiness.
As Christians, is happiness the central goal? Are we called to go into the world and be happy? Are we to judge the “goodness” of our lives by the moments of good fortune and the emotions they conjure? Do we focus on chasing an external source for contentment? The answer to those questions can be found in the Bible! The Bible repeatedly discusses the concept of Joy, not happiness. Joy is eternal and happiness is temporal. Joy comes from within us, not from external circumstances as with happiness.
Let’s look at what Paul wrote to the Church in Colossae. In Chapter 3, verse 2 he states, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.[4] We are called to focus on eternal things, not earthly temporal things. Paul warns against focusing on earthly and temporal things.
Let’s look at what Paul wrote to the Church in Colossae. In Chapter 3, verse 2 he states, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.[4] We are called to focus on eternal things, not earthly temporal things. Paul warns against focusing on earthly and temporal things.
Turn to Romans 14:17. Here Paul illustrates focusing on eternal things by stating, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.[5] The kingdom of God cannot be found in material things or the pleasures of this life, they are in the Holy Spirit! And it is not happiness found, it is JOY!
Turn to Romans 14:17. Here Paul illustrates focusing on eternal things by stating, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.[5] The kingdom of God cannot be found in material things or the pleasures of this life, they are in the Holy Spirit! And it is not happiness found, it is JOY!
So, if we should seek joy rather than happiness, where does it come from? Our joy comes from the Lord, Jesus Christ, who dwells within us! It does not come from external circumstances that can rapidly change! Since we are in the Book of Romans, let’s go one chapter further. In chapter 15, verse 13 Paul writes, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” [6]Who fills us with joy? By whose power will you abound in hope? Certainly not luck or fortune, or fate!
So, if we should seek joy rather than happiness, where does it come from? Our joy comes from the Lord, Jesus Christ, who dwells within us! It does not come from external circumstances that can rapidly change! Since we are in the Book of Romans, let’s go one chapter further. In chapter 15, verse 13 Paul writes, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” [6]Who fills us with joy? By whose power will you abound in hope? Certainly not luck or fortune, or fate!
Now, let’s look at what Jesus said. After the Last Supper, He is giving His final words to His disciples saying in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”[7] Our joy is made full by Jesus! When we dwell on the fact that joy does not come from anything external but from the Lord, we have set our focus correctly.
Now, let’s look at what Jesus said. After the Last Supper, He is giving His final words to His disciples saying in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”[7] Our joy is made full by Jesus! When we dwell on the fact that joy does not come from anything external but from the Lord, we have set our focus correctly.
I think Meg Bucher stated it well when she compared joy and happiness. In her blog on www.biblestudytools.com, she writes, “The difference between joy and happiness is substantial. We often assume that the fleeting feeling of happiness, giddy laughter, and contentment in the comforts of life is akin to the joy we experience in Jesus.”[8] There is a definite distinction between joy and happiness.
I think Meg Bucher stated it well when she compared joy and happiness. In her blog on www.biblestudytools.com, she writes, “The difference between joy and happiness is substantial. We often assume that the fleeting feeling of happiness, giddy laughter, and contentment in the comforts of life is akin to the joy we experience in Jesus.”[8] There is a definite distinction between joy and happiness.
Refutation
Refutation
Does that mean we are not supposed to be happy? Of course not. The feelings of happiness are built into our human existence from God, and we all experience periods of happiness. Happiness triggers the reward chemicals in our brain to reinforce positive outcomes. Thus, when something happens that does not make us happy, we register that event as something to be aware of in the future.
Does that mean we are not supposed to be happy? Of course not. The feelings of happiness are built into our human existence from God, and we all experience periods of happiness. Happiness triggers the reward chemicals in our brain to reinforce positive outcomes. Thus, when something happens that does not make us happy, we register that event as something to be aware of in the future.
Should happiness be our central goal, our end state? Absolutely not! We must realize that being happy is simply the product of the joy that comes from the Lord. When we receive an accolade or promotion to a higher position, we can feel the emotions of happiness, but the source comes from the Lord. Look at Psalm 75, verses 6 and 7, “For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation (promotion); But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts (promotes) another.”[9]
Should happiness be our central goal, our end state? Absolutely not! We must realize that being happy is simply the product of the joy that comes from the Lord. When we receive an accolade or promotion to a higher position, we can feel the emotions of happiness, but the source comes from the Lord. Look at Psalm 75, verses 6 and 7, “For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation (promotion); But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts (promotes) another.”[9]
By focusing on being happy, we chase the wrong thing. We choose to seek after the things of this world that reproduce the reward chemicals in our brain. We turn our focus from God and place it on earthly, temporal things.
By focusing on being happy, we chase the wrong thing. We choose to seek after the things of this world that reproduce the reward chemicals in our brain. We turn our focus from God and place it on earthly, temporal things.
To seek happiness and not Joy is a form of worshipping the creation, not the creator. Look at what Paul writes in Romans 1:22-25, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” [10]The truth of God is that He is the source of our Joy, not anything in His creation. We should not allow ourselves to focus on what makes us happy here on Earth but focus on Him and His kingdom. That is where we are filled with Joy!
To seek happiness and not Joy is a form of worshipping the creation, not the creator. Look at what Paul writes in Romans 1:22-25, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” [10]The truth of God is that He is the source of our Joy, not anything in His creation. We should not allow ourselves to focus on what makes us happy here on Earth but focus on Him and His kingdom. That is where we are filled with Joy!
Epilogue
Epilogue
As progressive Christianity continues to try infiltrate the church, it is imperative that we have a firm foundation in the Word of God. By continuing to meditate on the Word of God and seeking the answers found in scripture, we can be assured that our foundation is solid. This way, when we encounter ideas such as MTD and happiness, we have the foundation already set!
As progressive Christianity continues to try infiltrate the church, it is imperative that we have a firm foundation in the Word of God. By continuing to meditate on the Word of God and seeking the answers found in scripture, we can be assured that our foundation is solid. This way, when we encounter ideas such as MTD and happiness, we have the foundation already set!
Concepts of seeking happiness can sound biblical but miss the mark (Joy). Why would we seek the product and not the source? As we study joy, we see that happiness is simply a byproduct of it, and when we focus on God and His blessings on our life, we align ourselves rightly to the Word and to His purposes!
Concepts of seeking happiness can sound biblical but miss the mark (Joy). Why would we seek the product and not the source? As we study joy, we see that happiness is simply a byproduct of it, and when we focus on God and His blessings on our life, we align ourselves rightly to the Word and to His purposes!
Finally, as we grow in the Lord, we will recognize the things that get our focus off God and onto the things of this world. This includes the pursuit of happiness and other temporal things. We need to remain rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God to steady our focus on Him! Does God want us to be happy? The answer is He wants so much more for us. He wants us to be filled with His joy!
Finally, as we grow in the Lord, we will recognize the things that get our focus off God and onto the things of this world. This includes the pursuit of happiness and other temporal things. We need to remain rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God to steady our focus on Him! Does God want us to be happy? The answer is He wants so much more for us. He wants us to be filled with His joy!