Enjoying True Happiness

INTRODUCTION

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that all people desire happiness. Even in the Declaration of Independence we remember the phrase ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ There’s nothing wrong with being happy, it’s just what is the reason for our happiness and what is true happiness.

Does God want us to be happy. Of course! So why is it that the most blessed country in the world has so many unhappy people.

Abraham Lincoln – “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Psalm 144:15 AV

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

1. The Basics of True Happiness

A. Have Faith in God

Proverbs 16:20 AV

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Psalm 34:8 AV

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Faith in God frees us from the bondage of sin. Living without the crushing guilt of sin brings great happiness!

Faith in God makes us friends with God.

Faith in God grants us the indwelling of the HS.

Faith in God brings us assurance and security / safety. Building a life on the assurance of Faith in God brings consistent happiness

Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?", with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."

B. Obey God’s Word

Proverbs 29:18 AV

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Happiness also develops when we enjoy doing God’s will. We get joy out of pleasing God. Obeying God’s Word builds our relationship with Him and gives us a good life.

Psalm 119:2 AV

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Pray for direction, diligently obey, meditate on His truths. Obedience always brings great joy.

C. Live a Righteous Life

Proverbs 21:15 AV

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous enjoy doing right. The righteous enjoy justice in daily life, lawful practices, and social relations.

Doing right brings great happiness.

Because he knows that he does well in so doing, and that his action is approved by Almighty God.

Because it is a high honour done him by Almighty God to be employed in doing part of His work. For it is God that is the great doer of justice to all His creatures.

D. Kindly Serve Others

Proverbs 14:20–21 AV

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 14:31 AV

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

On verse 31 – you cannot honor God if you don’t have mercy on the poor. To take advantage of poor people is like sinning against God since God is the Maker of all people and because He defends the cause of the poor (Prov. 22:22–23). The righteous, wise person is kind to the poor for this honors God.

How do we oppress the poor?

By political injustice. When they have no proper outlet for expressing their wants, or have a voice in the representation of their country, or a free agency in all the enactments of their country.

By social neglect. When the state, as a body, allows vast masses of accumulating distress and ignorance and misery to grow up around it.

Isaiah 58:6–7 AV

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Godliness is being kind and humane to people, especially the poor. He that honors God, by loving Him supremely, and serving Him, will have mercy on the poor. True humanity is that which sympathizes with man, as the offspring of God, the victim of moral evil, the child of immortality, and which consecrates itself in the Spirit of Christ to heal his woes and redeem his soul, and this is godliness in its practical development.

2. Helps For Happiness

A. Supportive Friends

Proverbs 27:9 AV

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Heavenly Wisdom: Proverbs Simply Explained Friendship

One of the advantages of friendship is that a friend can tell you your faults and passionately urge you in the right direction in a way that an enemy cannot, and in a way that even a family member cannot do so well.

the sweetness of friendship strengthens the spirit. A good friend will help us with the previous points

Proverbs 12:25 AV

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

There is a necessity that we should be in heaviness through trials; but we must beware lest by giving free reign to anxious and depressing thoughts.

Discouragement of heart hinders men for thanking and praising God, for serving their community, and for bearing the burdens of life.

Are you grieved in your minds? Remember that it is sinful and dangerous to brood perpetually over your sorrows.

B. A Loving Spouse

Proverbs 5:18 AV

18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

taken to be a wife in youth, and lived with ever since; do not despise her, nor divorce her, even in old age, but delight in her company now as ever; carry it not morosely and churlishly to her, but express a joy and pleasure in her

C. Godly Children

Kids can bring a lot of joy or grief.

1. Wise Children

Proverbs 23:15–16 AV

15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

We should desire to raise our children in the wisdom of the Lord.

Kids, when you do foolish things you bring great sadness to your parents and family and yes, even your church.

2. Righteous Children

Proverbs 23:24–25 AV

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Wise children should live a righteous life. Kids should be thinking what is the right thing to do.

3. Properly Disciplined Children

Proverbs 29:17 AV

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

But wise and righteous children come from being disciplined children!

III. The Blessings of Happiness

A. Physical Health

Proverbs 17:22 AV

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

There is definitely a relationship between mental health and physical health. Just google it!

When we that brooding nature to come in; when we are disobedient to God; when we aren’t living righteously, when we are selfish and not caring about those that are down and out – we become unhappy and unhealthy.

Keep up your mental health.

1. Look at your mercies with both eyes; your troubles with only one eye.

2. Learn Paul’s secret: “In whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

3. Be useful. Light up somebody’s life.

4. Make God your hope. Believe in His care of your welfare.

B. A Cheerful Appearance

Proverbs 15:13 AV

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

If your heart is happy, would you then please inform your face.

We wouldn’t have to put on a happy face if we had a happy heart.

A happy spirit changes our whole outward demeanour.

C. A Positive Attitude Toward Life

Proverbs 15:15 AV

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

A Christian who is right with the Lord, will be happy in heart, and therefore positive towards life.

The power of the inner man can overcome outward circumstances. We may have persecution and trials but internally we can have true happiness with the Lord. It’s a true blessing that the outward circumstances ultimately have no power over our inner happiness.

An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy the most in his lifetime. He replied, "Things that never happened!" Someone has cited these three keys to happiness: 1)Don’t Worry--He loves you unto the end (John 13:1), 2)Don’t Give Up--He holds you with his right hand (Psalm 139:10), 3)Don’t fear--He keeps you (Psalm 121:5).