THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
A) Illustration
“The Pursuit of Happyness” is an inspiring true-life story about Chris Gardner’s relentless pursuit of two dreams. First, he strives for financial success, hoping to transform his life and that of his son. Second, he aims to break the cycle of absentee fatherhood in his family. The film, based on a true story, follows Gardner, a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son while navigating a life-changing professional career. He invests heavily in a device called a “bone density scanner,” but despite his efforts, it doesn’t sell well. Facing homelessness, Gardner takes on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, hoping to secure a paid position. The movie portrays his resilience, determination, and the challenges he overcomes to achieve his goal.
Everyone all around us are in the pursuit of happiness. No one wants to live a life that is not enjoyable (Am I right about it?). People walk away from people, places, and things because they are not happy. It is an ongoing saga that plagues millions: They just want to be happy.
B) Context of the Text
Jesus has attracted a large following. People from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon have gathered to hear Him and to be healed. The question could be asked: Why were so many people following him?” History tells us that the Romans began to occupy Palestine in 63 BCE resulting in the displacement of millions by the time that Jesus came on the scene. Jesus’ message of the beatitudes focused on the socioeconomic conditions of first century Palestine. Luke sets out to paint a picture of people living in despair. They are unhappy because they are suffering from sicknesses, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and a overwhelming sense of helplessness.
While some see this sermon being directed to the twelve because Luke says: “And He raised His eyes toward His disciples and began saying...” We must consider the construction of the crowd from Lk 6:17 that suggest otherwise. As Jesus surveyed the mass misery, He was concerned about their present plight and began to talk about being blessed.
The Greek word for “blessed” is “makarios” and is also translated as “happy.” It appears 50 times in the New Testament and conveys more than a fleeting feeling of well-being; it describes a person who enjoys a special privilege or favor with God.
True Happiness
True Happiness
True happiness comes from a secure and settled knowledge of God.
FALSE ESTIMATION OF HAPPINESS
FALSE ESTIMATION OF HAPPINESS
It is not surprising that Jesus would begin this discourse on happiness by mentioning the poor. They have always been a special concern of the Lord. They are mentioned first at the start of His public ministry; Look again at Luke 4:18-19
“the spirit of the lord is upon me, because he anointed me to bring good news to the poor. he has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
When Luke uses the Greek word ptōchós (poor) he is not using it in a figurative way that Matthew did. Matthew’s emphasis in on the spiritual: See Matt 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke uses it literallly to describe that pertaining to being poor and destitute, implying a continuous state—‘poor, destitute.’
Since in all societies there are poor people, there is no difficulty involved in finding a suitable expression to designate such persons, but in some languages idiomatic phrases are used, for example, ‘those who walk in rags’ or ‘those whose ribs are always showing.’ Some of the ones used in American are:
He's short of cash
He's on the bread line.
She's in debt / overdrawn / bankrupt.
Working on a Black job.
Broke, disgusted, and can’t be trusted.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. 1996. In Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., 1:563. New York: United Bible Societies.
In the United States, the percentage of the population living in poverty is determined by comparing an individual’s or family’s income to a set federal threshold. As of the latest data from 2022, the official poverty rate was 11.5%, which equates to about 37.9 million people living in poverty.
Being poor creates the other conditions in the sermon: hunger, weeping, being hated, excluded, and insulted. This is a present day reality for so many all over the world. The Bible sees this as a continual problem facing humanity: See Deuteronomy 15:11, Matt 26:11, Mark 14:6, and John 12:8
For the poor will not cease to exist in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’
For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.
But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me.
For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
Jesus sees them and cares about their plight. He understands that they are suffering Now and seeking a level of relief.
IS MONEY THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS?
IS MONEY THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS?
For most of us a substantial influx of cash right now would put a smile on our face and song in our heart. I am sure that everybody in here can relate to that. The Preacher's statement that "money answers everything" (Eccl. 10:19) is a simple practical observation that wealth is a tool that can meet the need for food, clothing, shelter, and so on. We should not take his words as endorsing the idea that absolutely every issue one can think of can be solved with money. On the contrary, money can become a problem for some people.
Is money the key to happiness? Consider what it did for Buddy Post, of Oil City, Pennsylvania. According to the Associated Press and Chicago Tribune, in 1988 he won a jackpot of $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania Lottery. That was the beginning of his misery.
His landlady claimed that she shared the winning ticket with Post and successfully sued him for one-third of the money.
Post started an assortment of business ventures with his siblings, all of which failed.
In 1991 he was sentenced to six months to two years in prison for assault. Post claimed that he had simply fired a gun into his garage ceiling to scare off his stepdaughter’s boyfriend, who was arguing with him over business and ownership of Post’s pickup.
In 1993 Post’s brother was convicted of plotting to kill Buddy and his wife to gain access to the lottery money.
In 1994 Post filed for bankruptcy.
Post’s wife left him, and the court ordered that Post pay $40,000 a year in support payments.
Post finally had enough. To pay off a mountain of legal fees, he tried in September 1996 to sell off the rights to the seventeen future payments from his jackpot, valued at some $5 million. But the Pennsylvania Lottery tried to block the sale.
“Money didn’t change me,” says Post. “It changed people around me that I knew, that I thought cared a little bit about me. But they only cared about the money.”
I hear somebody thinking out loud saying “that’s all well and fine, but I want to be happy now.”
NOW AND LATER
NOW AND LATER
Now and Later is the name of a candy that most of have enjoyed eating at one time or another. It was created in Brooklyn, New York in 1962 by The Phoenix Candy Company. The name Now and Later was meant to suggest to customers that they are going to like them now and then want some more later. My favorite flavor was Watermelon, I have to tell you that most of the time, it never made it to later.
How many of us are like that? We enjoy the taste, sound, or feel of something so much that we want it all right now. For some it is the inability to control their appetites, others are just impulsive.
Conclusion
Conclusion
2832 Where Is Happiness?
Not in Unbelief—Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
Not in Pleasure—Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
Not in Money—Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
Not in Position and Fame—Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
Not in Military Glory—Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where then is happiness found?—the answer is simple, in Christ alone.
—The Bible Friend