Finding Happiness in Strange Places

Matthew 5:1–12 NKJV

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The pearl is one of the most precious of gems. It is a miracle of nature. But where does it come from? It is produced by the lowly oyster, an ugly creature, inside and out. The oyster has little in the way of comeliness that would suggest the beauty that resides inside. You can find blessings in strange places.

Jesus proved the truth of that statement, in the spiritual realm, when he preached what we call The Sermon on the Mount. This sermon begins with that familiar word “blessed.” Many bible dictionaries use words “happy” or “fortunate” to describe the meaning of the word blessed.

The beatitudes are not a series of commands, but blessings. They are descriptions of the kind of person who will receive the blessings of God. They identify a series of qualities that produce happiness, even though happiness is not readily apparent. Our English word “beatitude” is from the Latin beatitudo. It stands for the “blessed are” statements that we will look more closely at today.

Happiness in our relationship to God.

Matthew 5:3 NKJV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus tells that Happiness can be found where there is poverty. The word translated “poor” is the word which denotes absolute poverty. It describes not the condition of having a little, but of having nothing. It is not financial poverty that Jesus has in mind, but spiritual poverty. We must learn to admit our need and to recognize the only one who can fill it. Those who do not feel their spiritual need, who consider themselves “rich, and increased with goods” and in “need of nothing,” are, in the sight of Heaven, “wretched, and miserable, and poor” (Rev. 3:17) It is important to note here that Christ was here speaking not so much of His future kingdom of glory as of the present kingdom of divine grace. Right were we live right now. He was talking about their time and our present time.

Matthew 5:4 NKJV

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Jesus says that happiness can be found where there is weeping. Have you ever found happiness in weeping or mourning? To mourn means to lament, to bewail. It is described as an intense emotion. The spiritual poverty of the “poor in spirit” (see on Matt. 5:3) is matched by the deep mourning of the persons described in v. 4. It is a deep sense of spiritual need that leads men to “mourn” for the imperfection they see in their own lives. So mourning includes grief caused by both personal sin and loss and evil and oppression in our lives as well. There is a hidden blessing in mourning. If our heart can be broken, then we know we have a heart. Those who cannot mourn cannot love either. It is better to have a broken heart than no heart at all.

We all like to be cheered up and to be encouraged when we’re down right? “They shall be comforted” Jesus tells us. Upon His departure He promised to send “another Comforter” (see on John 14:16), where it says  “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” that helper, the Holy Spirit, will abide with us as an ever-present friend forever it says. The Holy Spirit we have her and now, but God has reserved comfort for us as well.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

That will be happiness beyond description! Let’s go on.

Matthew 5:5 NKJV

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

What does it mean to be meek. In Greek it is described as mild or gentle, in Hebrew: afflicted or humble. Jesus called himself meek, KJV Matt 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Moses was probably the meekest of men. Num 12:3 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) Meekness is the attitude of heart and mind and life that prepares the way for sanctification.

Jesus tells us that these people well inherit the earth. It is certain that the “meek” do not now inherit the earth, but rather the proud and the greedy. Nevertheless, in due time the it will be given those who have earned it.

Jesus says happiness can be found where there is submission. To the modern mind meekness is a quality to avoid. Meekness is not for the faint-hearted or timid, but is a quality worthy of God’s love.

Matthew 5:6 NKJV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

We all know what it means to be hungry or to get thirsty. Does this make us happy? When that happens our bodies are telling us that we need food and drink don’t we? But it doesn’t say that dose it? How do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?

Righteousness is acting in accordance with the divine or moral law - free from guilt or sin. If this righteousness, can we do this acting that it speaks about? O we can try, but will we succeed? The righteousness this verse talks of is what Jesus wrought out in His life while here in human flesh—a righteousness that He offers to all who will accept it by faith. Ok, that’s easy enough.... no? Jesus spoke of the hunger and thirst of the soul here doesn't he. Only those who long for righteousness with the eager anxiety of a man starving for lack of food or famishing for want of water, will find it. No earthly source can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul, whether it be material riches, profound philosophies, the satisfaction of physical appetites, or honor and power. After experimenting with all of these things, Solomon concluded that “all is vanity” Those who hunger and thirst are graciously invited to come to the heavenly Provider and receive supplies of food and drink “without money and without price” This the way to obtain the righteousness that Jesus offers us.

So sure enough you can be happy if your hungry and thirsty for God, because you will be filled.

Matthew 5:7 NKJV

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

To be merciful isn’t thing or a possession. It’s an act: it’s compassion, lenience, it’s forbearance especially to an offender where punishment or retribution is deserved. It’s forgiveness and grace as well. Heb 2:17 tells us that Jesus was merciful.

Hebrews 2:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Micah 6:8 pretty much sums up or obligation to God an our fellow man.

Micah 6:8 NKJV

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Did you notice there at the last that Micah, just like Jesus, mentions humility before God and mercy to man? How many of you can think of some instant in your life when you were shown mercy by someone else. I think we would all agree that those times in your lives were a blessing. Mercy from God is the most important blessing of all. Happiness is found in being merciful.

Matthew 5:8 NKJV

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Those who have a pure heart will be happy. How the heart became the description for our conscience and out intellect, I’m not sure. But the Bible uses it extensively to describe our relationship to God. As Christ uses it, it includes far more than sexual purity; it includes all desirable character traits to the exclusion of all that are undesirable. It’s not the purity the Jewish leaders practiced religiously, but an inward cleansing. If are motives are pure, the life will be pure. By the way pure means to be clear from shame and guilt or defilement or contemplation the God has told us to stay away from.

To be “pure in heart” does not mean that one is absolutely sinless, but it does mean that his motives are right, that by the grace of Christ he has turned his back on past mistakes, and that he is pressing toward the mark of perfection in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:12-15 ESV.

If we have this pureness of heart will have the blessing of being able to see God. Imagine the happiness that will bring.

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Here’s a thought, happiness can be found in conflict, or should I say the resolving of conflicts. Christians are to be at peace among themselves (1 Thess. 5:13) and to “follow peace with all men” .

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

We are to pray for peace, to work for peace, and to take a constructive interest in activities that contribute to a peaceful state of society.

Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” You should notice that it does not say, “Blessed are the peace-lovers.”

If we dare to make peace, then we will be given the greatest compliment a person may know on earth. We will be called “sons of God.”

Matthew 5:10 NKJV

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Paul warned the believers that “through much persecution ” they must “enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Citizens of the heavenly kingdom may expect to have trouble in this world (John 16:33), for their characters, ideals, aspirations, and conduct all bear silent witness against the evil of this present world.

Jesus says happiness can be found where there is mistreatment and persecution. Everyone wants to be liked; it is our nature. It is not possible to please everyone, especially if you are a Christian. A person who lives a genuine Christian life can be a real nuisance in the eyes of some. Persecution can be a character builder. Persecution can make us a more effective witness. We should remember Paul and Silas in the prison. They experienced singing, joy and witnessing . We can have that same happiness as well when the time comes.

Did you see today the picture of the happy life? How do you like it? The world is not happy. There are such misguided ideas of where happiness is to be found. To receive the blessing of God we must accept a different set of priorities and look in different places than the world would look. You know why.

Of course you do. It should be obvious by now.

Happiness is found in strange places