How to be Happy
Notes
Transcript
How to be Happy
Text: Ecclesiastes 5:13–6:9 (KJV 1900)
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail:
and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
* Let me ask you a question this morning: What good is it to have plenty of money and all the materials things of this world, but not be able to enjoy life?
* The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes declares that it is a sore evil, (a very bad situation), to labor your entire life for the wrong things in life, thinking they will make you happy only to find everything you have worked and sacrificed so hard for is gone before you even get to enjoy it.
* The writer of Ecclesiastes also says that it is very common, but a bad situation to be in, when you have finally made it to the top, or spent your life gathering material things, and find that God has allowed you to chase your dreams- but you failed to enjoy life.
* Back to our test here in Eccl. Look with me at verse 14:
14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
* Laboring for the wind is trying to catch happiness by gaining material things.
* Laboring for the wind is like trying to catch the wind in your hand!
* What Solomon is saying here is that happiness is elusive. Happiness cannot be attained or enjoyed by material things.
* Happiness cannot be found in material things, things that are external, because true happiness is internal, not external.
* Happiness is a matter of the heart and soul. Happiness is spiritual in nature.
* The pursuit of happiness is like a dog chasing its tail- There's a whole lot of spinning around going on, but nothing is really happening.
* In the pursuit of happiness we tend do a lot of spinning around of our wheels, but we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
* This is what the writer of Ecc. is talking about, when he talks about vexation of spirit.
* We can become so consumed with the pursuit of happiness, that we destroy our ability to be happy.
“Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present.
Ecclesiastes 5:13–6:12 (KJV 1900)
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
* Did you know that the Bible says that it can be a “sore evil,” a very bad situation, to hoard up riches, wealth, and materials things?
1 Timothy 6:6–10 (KJV 1900)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
* Solomon goes on to say that if our desires for material things, and our ambition to be successful, are not kept under control, or desires and ambition will vex our lives. Look at verse 7:
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool?
* Let me ask you again this morning, what good is it to have all the materials things of this world, but not be able to enjoy life?
what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
* When we look at all the seemingly nice things that our society has to offer, it becomes all too easy to set our desires on nice cars, fine homes, the latest electronic gadgets, and all the trinkets and tinsel that glitters and gleams on the television screen.
* but none of these things can bring happiness!
*Some people believe that if they could just insulate themselves from sorrow, pain, or sickens, that would bring happiness…
the Bible offers a realistic appraisal of life in the human realm.
- Abraham cried when his wife Sarah died.
- David mourned over the loss of his son Absalom.
- Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” preached his message of judgment with tears.
- A woman came to Jesus and washed His feet with her tears.
- Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus.
- Jesus wept in great anguish of soul in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Peter wept bitterly over his denial of Jesus.
- Jesus comforted the weeping Mary Magdalene outside the tomb on resurrection morning.
* So if insulating ourselves from suffering and poverty cannot produce happiness in the hearts of mankind, then what does produce true happiness?
* Jesus had much to say about how to be happy and how to guard our happiness.
Principles of happiness that Jesus taught:
1). The borrower is servant to the lender.
2). Love the life that you have now. Don’t spend all your time in the past, don’t spend all your time in the future.
3). Live according to your means. “Building a tower”
4). Don’t be controlled by anything or anyone.
5). Count every day as precious.
6). Always put God first.
7). Live and let live. Don’t worry about what others are doing.
8). Don’t build your life around something that is unstable. Such as a relationship
9). Don’t worry about what you can’t fix.
I0). To find happiness you must look on the inside, not on the outside.
11). If you want to find true happiness, you must get out of step with the world.
12). If you want to find true happiness, you must first realize that the source of your unhappiness and emptiness comes from being apart from God.
13). True happiness is found in seeking not our own happiness, but the happiness of others.
14). To be truly happy, we need to have an inward attitude of gratitude.
15). Don’t be unequally yoked in business or in marriage.
Conclusion:
* Jesus taught that the pursuit of True Happiness is Part of God’s Purpose for You and Me.
* C.S. Lewis enjoyed telling the story of the child who was asked what he thought God was like.
* As far as the child could make out, God was always snooping around to see if anyone was enjoying himself, so that He could put a stop to it!
* Have you ever known anyone like that? There are Christians who act that way—“If you’re not sad, you can’t be holy.”
* When we were kids we all remember:
- the deacon that always went around looking like a mule eating saw briars
- Old ladies that were so sour they looked like they were weaned on a dill pickle
- old men with expressions on their faces that looked like they were born on the dark side of the moon…
* Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
* God’s purpose is not to create a joyless existence; Jesus didn’t come to create a bunch of unhappy old sour-pusses!
* Jesus said that He wanted us to have his Joy- to make our joy full!
* Jesus went out of his way to make it clear to us, that God wants us to be blessed that means happy!- It’s part of His purpose for our lives!
* When you read about the way Jesus came to earth, eating and drinking, and fellowshipping with His disciples, you’ll see that the Jesus really enjoyed life!
* Jesus enjoyed all the banquets and the gathering in friends in homes!
* Jesus mingled with publicans and sinners and was the kind of man who attracted little children to Himself.
* Jesus had a sense of humor, too, though many people miss it when they read the Bible.
* In one of Jesus sermons, He once pictured a man with a plank hanging out of his eye, squinting as he removed a speck of sawdust from the eye of a brother.
* Those people who heard that illustration must have giggled with delight at the verbal picture Jesus painted!
* The people who try to paint a picture of Jesus as someone sad or morbid have missed the complete picture of Jesus in the Bible.
* Jesus delighted in fellowship with people, and He wanted them to be happy!
* He gave us the beatitudes so that we would know how to enjoy life like He did!
* We all have been touched by the misery that legalism brings to the Christian life, but the people of God should be filled with a radiant joy so contagious it can’t be held in!
* That is what Jesus said he wants for you and me. Listen to the words of John 15:11 and 12:
John 15:11–12 (KJV 1900)
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
* What Solomon is saying here is that happiness is elusive. Happiness cannot be attained or enjoyed by material things.
* Happiness cannot be found in material things, things that are external, because true happiness is internal, not external.
* Happiness is a matter of the heart and soul. Happiness is spiritual in nature.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
* Solomon’s conclusion at the end of his life was that happiness is a spiritual matter.
* True happiness can not be found in the external things of the material world.
* If you ignore this message, and walk out of here thinking that you can find happiness from external things such a relationships, or material things, you will waist your life.
* True happiness comes from God alone, and not from anything this world has to offer.
* The happiest you will ever be is when you are right with
God.
* Now this is the key verse to our passage that we are using as our text this morning. If you only remember one verse, remember this one:
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and
what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
* The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes declares that it is a sore evil, (a very bad situation), to labor your entire life for the wrong things in life, thinking they will make you happy only to find everything you have worked and sacrificed so hard for is gone before you even get to enjoy it.
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
* Now here is the second most important verse in our text this morning:
6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
* The writer of Ecclesiastes also says that it is very common, but a bad situation to be in, when you have finally made it to the top, or spent your life gathering material things, and find that God has allowed you to chase your dreams- but you failed to enjoy life.
3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
* Look with me now a little closer at our text this morning. Look with me at verse 13:
Ecclesiastes 5:13–6:12 (KJV 1900)
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
* Did you know that the Bible says that it can be a “sore evil,” a very bad situation, to hoard up riches, wealth, and materials things?
1 Timothy 6:6–10 (KJV 1900)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
* Let me ask you a question this morning: What good is it to have plenty of money and all the materials things of this world, but not be able to enjoy life?
* Jesus even went a step further with this question and asked:
Mark 8:36 (KJV 1900)
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
* Back to our test here in Eccl. Look with me at verse 14:
14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
* Laboring for the wind is trying to catch happiness by gaining material things.
* Laboring for the wind is like trying to catch the wind in your hand!
* What Solomon is saying here is that happiness is elusive. Happiness cannot be attained or enjoyed by material things.
* Happiness cannot be found in material things, things that are external, because true happiness is internal, not external.
* Happiness is a matter of the heart and soul. Happiness is spiritual in nature.
* The pursuit of happiness is like a dog chasing its tail- There's a whole lot of spinning around going on, but nothing is really happening.
* In the pursuit of happiness we tend do a lot of spinning around of our wheels, but we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
* This is what the writer of Ecc. is talking about, when he talks about vexation of spirit.
* We can become so consumed with the pursuit of happiness, that we destroy our ability to be happy.
* James J. Lachard, director and CEO of World Vision Canada, in his book “An interview with God,” wrote, when asked what surprised him the most about humanity:
“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;
the result being that he does not live in the present or the future;
he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
* This is precisely what Solomon is trying to get through to his listeners here in our text: “I don’t want to die having never really lived.”
* My friends this morning, my sermon to you is don’t wait until the end of your life to learn how to enjoy life!
* Let’s look at our text again. Look at verse 17:
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
* Now Solomon deals with the subject of sorrow and sickness in life.
* Solomon want his readers to understand that sorrow and sickness are a God ordained part of life.
* Jesus said blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
* One of the most astounding truths about our generation is the belief that happiness and freedom from pain, are our inalienable rights as American Christians.
* We believe that a man who manages his life well, has the right to live above pain and enjoy happiness.
* And yet, deep down inside, we know that only children believe that pain always goes away.
* It is a great truth that pain is a part of life, and- there is no guarantee of happiness.
*Dr. Joseph Fabry has said that the focus of a man’s life is the pursuit of meaning, not the pursuit of happiness.
* This is a profound statement!
* This truth, the phrase, the pursuit of the meaning of life, is what the founding father should have put in the Declaration of Independence- instead of the phrase “the pursuit of happiness!”
* I believe the Declaration of Independence should have read:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of the meaning of Life!
* If you expect everything in life to be pleasurable, then you will inevitably bring yourself to frustration.
* In recent years we have seen some preachers such as Robert Shouler and his “Glass Cathedral,” and Joel Olsteen, offer a “positive mental attitude” philosophy of life.
* This false message is in direct opposition to the examples of life we find in the Bible.
* In the Scripture we learn that hurt and disappointments in life will happen, and we had better learn how to handle them.
* There has never been an attempt on the part of the biblical authors to give us a Pollyanna view of life.
- “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile” isn’t found in the Bible.
* Instead, the Bible offers a realistic appraisal of life in the human realm.
- Abraham cried when his wife Sarah died.
- David mourned over the loss of his son Absalom.
- Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” preached his message of judgment with tears.
- A woman came to Jesus and washed His feet with her tears.
- Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus.
- Jesus wept in great anguish of soul in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Peter wept bitterly over his denial of Jesus.
- Jesus comforted the weeping Mary Magdalene outside the tomb on resurrection morning.
* Where did we ever get the idea that the ideal life will be without tears and sorrow?
* Why do we think that tears are a sign of weakness or that they demonstrate a lack of faith in God?
* That’s not the message of the Word of God.
* Imagine for a minute with me- a man who never mourns…
* He lives by himself; he loses touch with all his family and friends.
* He never visits anyone, nor is he visited. He is perfectly insulated against sorrow …
* but is he happy- No! Life was not designed by God to live that way!
* Insulating ourselves against pain and sorrow cannot make us happy!
* Trying to insulate yourself against want or need doesn't bring happiness either- it only, according to Solomon here in our text, causes us to vex ourselves to the point we cannot enjoy life!
* Now back to our text again. Look with me at verse 18:
* Solomon wants his readers to know that it is normal and good to enjoy the things in life that come by honest work.
18 Behold that which I have seen:
it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour
that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
* Solomon wants his readers to know that it is not good, it is not normal, to be so consumed by success and material gain, that you cannot enjoy life.
* Listen to the contrasting words now in verse 6:
6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
* Solomon goes on to say that it would have been belter not to have been born, that to live a life wasted on the wrong things.
3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that
an untimely birth is better than he.
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
* Solomon goes on to say that if our desires for material things, and our ambition to be successful, are not kept under control, or desires and ambition will vex our lives. Look at verse 7:
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool?
* Let me ask you again this morning, what good is it to have all the materials things of this world, but not be able to enjoy life?
what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
* When we look at all the seemingly nice things that our society has to offer, it becomes all too easy to set our desires on nice cars, fine homes, the latest electronic gadgets, and all the trinkets and tinsel that glitters and gleams on the television screen.
* but none of these things can bring happiness!
Introduction:
* So if insulating ourselves from suffering and poverty cannot produce happiness in the hearts of mankind, then what does produce true happiness?
* Jesus had much to say about how to be happy and how to guard our happiness.
* In this series of sermons that I am introducing this morning, we will address some of the principles that can be taken from the teaching of Jesus that directly affect our happiness.
* Some of the principles that we will deal with in in passing are:
Principles of happiness that Jesus taught:
1). The borrower is servant to the lender.
2). Love the life that you have now. Don’t spend all your time in the past, don’t spend all your time in the future.
3). Live according to your means. “Building a tower”
4). Don’t be controlled by anything or anyone.
5). Count every day as precious.
6). Always put God first.
7). Live and let live. Don’t worry about what others are doing.
8). Don’t build your life around something that is unstable. Such as a relationship
9). Don’t worry about what you can’t fix.
I0). To find happiness you must look on the inside, not on the outside.
11). If you want to find true happiness, you must get out of step with the world.
12). If you want to find true happiness, you must first realize that the source of your unhappiness and emptiness comes from being apart from God.
13). True happiness is found in seeking not our own happiness, but the happiness of others.
14). To be truly happy, we need to have an inward attitude of gratitude.
15). Don’t be unequally yoked in business or in marriage.
* Our main focus in this study will be on 9 character traits that will cause a person to be happy found in Matthew chapter 5.
* There we have recorded for a sermon that Jesus preached, for which the theme was all about how to be happy. We call this the Sermon on the Mount, or the “Beatitudes.”
* The term beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beātitūdō which means "happy", "fortunate", or "blissful".
* The Beatitudes describe 10 blessings in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew.
* Each Beatitude is a proverb-like proclamation packed full of hidde meaning on the surface, but each one includes a topic that forms a major biblical theme".
* Four of such "blessings" also appear in the Sermon on the Plain in Luke, which are followed by four woes that mirror the blessings.
* Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result.
* In almost every case the condition is from familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation.
* Together, the Beatitudes present a new set of Christian ideals that focus on a spirit of love and humility.
* The beatitudes of Matthew chapter 5, echo the highest ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality, and compassion.
* The Beatitudes follow a simple pattern: Jesus names a group of people normally thought to be unfortunate, or who you might thing would not possible be happy, and the He pronounces them blessed.
* Nine different times in this sermon, Jesus uses the word blessed, which roughly translates to “happy.”
* The nine core values Jesus offers in the Beatitudes describe life that is really worth living- a happy life.
* In the next 10 Sundays or so, we will be taking an in-depth look at each of these core values that Jesus said would bring happiness in our lives.
* According to Jesus, the world would have you to go about perusing happiness in all the wrong ways.
* According to Jesus, in order to find true happiness, you will need to walk out of step with the normal world.
* In our culture, we have a tendency to think that when we finally have enough money to do anything we want, we’ll be happy.
* But according to Jesus, that’s not where happiness is found.
* J.B. Phillips has said that our modern world has created its own beatitudes:
- Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world.
- Happy are the hard-boiled, for they never let life hurt them.
- Happy are they who complain, for they get their own way in the end.
- Happy are the slave-drivers, for they get results.
- Happy are the knowledgeable, for they know their way around.
- Happy are the troublemakers, for they make people take notice of them.
* In America, we have even tried to make happiness a right.
* It’s in our Declaration of Independence, right alongside life and liberty.
* We all know people who are trying to live within the truth of the Declaration of Independence- their whole life is wrapped up in the pursuit of happiness.
* Sometimes it can be confusing to watch them.
* One man buys a dozen homes in hopes of making himself happy; another goes into the wilderness to live like a hermit.
*One woman becomes a nun in hopes of finding happiness, another woman becomes a harlot.
* One young man thinks happiness is found in body building, while another tries to find it by destroying his body with drugs.
* One couple thinks happiness is found in children, while another couple is convinced children get in the way of happiness.
* Our world, and its system perusing happiness, claims that, to be happy, you need to be successful.
* the world system that we live in says that:
- The world claims that money and possessions will make you happy
- Our world, and its system perusing happiness, claims that great accomplishments will make you happy
- This world claims that fame will give you inner joy and satisfaction
- This world claims that pleasure will make life worth living.
* Our culture values pride, power, and possessions.
* The World says, “If you do something great, make sure everybody knows about it.”
* The World says, “Cover up mistakes and pain, the world says, because they’ll make you appear weak.”
* The World says, “Drive yourself to succeed, climb the corporate ladder, and live the American Dream—those are the things that will bring joy to your life!”
* The World says “Satisfy your longings and desires, for physical pleasure is what we are all striving for!
* Our culture says “Happiness can be found in unrestrained sexual freedom!”
* The World says “If anybody tries to stop you, push them out of the way!”
* In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offered a plan for happiness that was entirely at odds with the world’s perspective.
* The Beatitudes are some of the most remarkable pronouncements Christ ever made, and they provide a plan for finding real happiness in an unhappy world.
* Everyone seems to be seeking happiness, but few seem to find it.
* In a world that never seems to deliver happiness to those looking for it, Jesus offers a path to true joy and happiness.
Happy are the humble.
The world tells us not to be humble. We need to be self-assertive, make sure everybody knows how good we are, and tell our story. The world suggests we even brag a little, so that we’ll get noticed. But Jesus says that it will be the humble who inherit the kingdom of heaven. God will resist the proud and exalt the humble. He will draw near to those who have a recognition that they are incomplete apart from God.
Happy are the hurting.
The world says to avoid pain at all costs. Whatever we have to do to get rid of mourning, we should do it. Cover it up, ignore it, mask it, or pretend it’s not there, because we want to stay away from pain. But Jesus says that the most profound experiences we ever have will come from pain. The greatest truths will be learned through suffering. Some of our most joyous moments will be when everything on the outside is dictating anguish in our lives. Happy are those who hurt, for they shall be comforted.
Happy are the harnessed.
The world says that we can have it all. If we’ve got power, we ought to use it. Take every resource to the limit and grab for all the gusto we can. But Jesus says that real happiness is when your power is controlled by the Spirit of God. Joy comes in knowing we have power, but it is under control. We don’t have to demonstrate power continually, regardless of the world’s expectations.
Happy are the hungry.
The world says that we don’t want to be hungry; we want to be satisfied. We don’t want to have anything lacking in our lives, since that’s a sign of not being successful, so we need to get everything we can. We should gorge ourselves on things. We should drive ourselves to be successful in today’s world. But Jesus says that true joy can never be found in material things. Happiness comes from having an inner desire to know God and to want to partake of His nature. Those people who fill themselves up on the Lord, rather than the world, will find real happiness.
Happy are the helpers.
The world says that happiness is being served by others. The world is a triangle, and when we get to the top everyone below us will serve us. So we should do everything in our power to get above others. But Jesus says that He came into this world not to be served but to serve. He came to give His life away. Happiness is found in serving others, not in being served. If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all. Happy are those who are merciful to others, for they shall be ministered to.
Happy are the holy.
The world says that joy is found in unrestrained freedom. Sex, drugs, and any pleasurable experience are lifted up as the ultimate goal and glorified as hallmarks of “freedom.” Perversions are marched down Main Street in the name of free speech. This is supposed to give us a sense that we control our own destiny, that we can make our existence happy through the indulgence of sinful delights. But Jesus says that holy people are the ones who are truly happy. I’ve been a pastor for more than thirty years, and I’ve yet to meet a happy adulterer. We don’t find joy through unrestrained passion. Happiness comes from having a clean heart and knowing that we are walking close to the Almighty.
Happy are the healers.
The world says that we are in competition with our fellow workers and should build competitions, use politics, beat people, knock each other out and climb over the carnage to get to the top. But Jesus says that the happy people are the peacemakers, those who can heal situations rather than exacerbate them. Find people who are hurting and heal them. If you’ve got a problem with a colleague, mend it. Rather than dividing people, unite them. Happiness is found not in creating war but in establishing peace.
Happy are the harassed.
The world wants us to conform to its image. It wants us to live by its standards. It is at war with God, and expects us to be, too. If we decide to stand with God, they’ll attack us. They’ll say bad things about us, harass us, and try to ruin our reputations. But Jesus says we ought to be happy when persecution comes, for it is a sign that we belong to God. We can be happy in the face of harassment, for we know that our lives must be making an impact or the devil wouldn’t bother with us.
As I look over Christ’s design for happiness,
* I’m struck by the fact that it isn’t the list I would have created.
* This wouldn’t be the formula for happiness that I would have suggested by a long shot!
* But Jesus says these are exactly the things that will bring happiness.
* The world is in direct opposition to God, so God’s formula for success is directly opposite to the world’s.
* We can have the blessing and benediction of God if we’ll follow the principles that Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes.
Conclusion:
* Jesus taught that the pursuit of True Happiness is Part of God’s Purpose for You and Me.
* C.S. Lewis enjoyed telling the story of the child who was asked what he thought God was like.
* As far as the child could make out, God was always snooping around to see if anyone was enjoying himself, so that He could put a stop to it!
* Have you ever known anyone like that? There are Christians who act that way—“If you’re not sad, you can’t be holy.”
* When we were kids we all remember:
- the deacon that always went around looking like a mule eating saw briars
- Old ladies that were so sour they looked like they were weaned on a dill pickle
- old men with expressions on their faces that looked like they were born on the dark side of the moon…
* Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
* God’s purpose is not to create a joyless existence; Jesus didn’t come to create a bunch of unhappy old sour-pusses!
* Jesus said that He wanted us to have his Joy- to make our joy full!
* Jesus went out of his way to make it clear to us, that God wants us to be blessed that means happy!- It’s part of His purpose for our lives!
* When you read about the way Jesus came to earth, eating and drinking, and fellowshipping with His disciples, you’ll see that the Jesus really enjoyed life!
* Jesus enjoyed all the banquets and the gathering in friends in homes!
* Jesus mingled with publicans and sinners and was the kind of man who attracted little children to Himself.
* Jesus had a sense of humor, too, though many people miss it when they read the Bible.
* In one of Jesus sermons, He once pictured a man with a plank hanging out of his eye, squinting as he removed a speck of sawdust from the eye of a brother.
* Those people who heard that illustration must have giggled with delight at the verbal picture Jesus painted!
* The people who try to paint a picture of Jesus as someone sad or morbid have missed the complete picture of Jesus in the Bible.
* Jesus delighted in fellowship with people, and He wanted them to be happy!
* He gave us the beatitudes so that we would know how to enjoy life like He did!
* We all have been touched by the misery that legalism brings to the Christian life, but the people of God should be filled with a radiant joy so contagious it can’t be held in!
* That is what Jesus said he wants for you and me. Listen to the words of John 15:11 and 12:
John 15:11–12 (KJV 1900)
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.