We can define happiness as the most coveted prize on earth, that pinnacle that men strive to reach all their lives.
It is also one of the most elusive treasures on earth. This, I trust, is apparent to most of us, considering the
general condition of the world at large.
Before I explain what happiness is, and how we aquire it, I want to tell you what it is not
No material possession or human relationship or activity can give us happiness. Now, when I say this I mean
literally. A billion dollars, and all it can buy us, won't make us happy. A love affair with the most desirable
mate we can imagine.....nope. Sex, wealth, fame, success, beauty....none of these things can give us happiness.
In fact, these factors do just the opposite in what my Pastor calls "Operation Boomerang".
Operation Boomerang occurs when a person sets their sights on one or more of these factors, and gains what they seek,
but fail to find happiness. After all their stuggles, sacrifices, hopes and dreams, no happiness. The terrible
reality of this truth drives them into despair, malcontent, self-pity, a plethora of negative reaction symptoms, all of
which make the person miserable.
Take my favorite crowd to use as examples, movie stars. These people have it all, but they're the most miserable people
on the planet. To compensate they get into drugs or booze, jump from one lover to another, spend millions on lavish
parties, beautiful homes, you name it. Most of them finally resort to crusading, focusing their attention on some noble
cause in a desperate attempt to find some meaning for life.
There's nothing wrong with having any of these things, so long as you have happiness, in which case you enjoy them
to the fullest. At the same time, you must never lose your perspective. When you know what happiness is, and how you get
it, you can't allow your alertness to principle lose momentum. The moment you start worrying about losing your wealth,
or whatever, you subtly fall into the same malpractice, but by the back door. In other words, when you begin worrying
that losing your money, or fame, whatever, will make you unhappy then you have lost hold of the truth. Fretting
about losing them is exactly the same as striving to gain them....all the importance in your priority scale is
focused on things or people, circumstances, etc.
By the way, astheticism is equally as bankrupt. Divesting yourself of all worldly goods and wearing rags, living a
spartan life, will not bring happiness either.
Happiness is a well defined thinking process.
So we narrow down the possible elements of happiness to one general category, thought. But not all thoughts produce
happiness, obviously. One might assume that the kind of thoughts that produce happiness are benign, twinkle-toes
thought. Love everybody, be a nice person, give to charity, go to church every Sunday, help old ladies across the
street, blah, blah, blah.
If I may be so bold, I will point out that this is precisely what Satan assumed would bring him happiness. There is no
more sugar-coated do-gooder in the Universe than Satan! He also has all the other superlatives, and he holds the record
as the most miserable creature in existence.
Since happiness is purely a soul phenomenon then the One to go to for the answers is the Inventor. He configured the
soul to be happy under specific conditions, so that's where we go for answers. Let me warn you before hand that we will
find happiness where most would never expect it.
"Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O
people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help,
and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine
enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou
shalt tread upon their high places." (Deut 33:29)
There is happiness in victory over our enemies, but in the context of our relationship with God.
In this passage the citizens of Israel are happy because the Lord has delivered them in battle
and their soldiers have scaled their walls and captured their watch towers.
"Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which
stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom." (1 Kings 10:8)
Now we're getting down to specifics. Happiness is found in thinking Divine viewpoint. "Standing continually
before Thee and hearing your wisdom" is learning Bible doctrine.
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore
despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:" (Job 5:17)
In this verse we have Divine punishment, and the admonition to receive His chastisement with the right
attitude. Herein is happiness, to be punished by God and understand what He is punishing you for. Note
that He "correcteth", or makes straight. There is no happiness in bearing pain, as such, but in grasping
why the pain is administered, to what end, and acting accordingly.
" For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt
thou be, and it shall be well with thee." (Psa 128:2)
There is happiness in earning our own way. We have already established that happiness is not in things
or circumstances, so this refers to the self-esteem that comes of depending on no man, but bending
the back to earn a living and enjoying the fruits of our labors.
" Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy
is that people, whose God is the LORD." (Psa 144:15)
The nation who worships God and lives by His laws will become prosperous. They live in freedom. But the
source of happiness here is rapport with God, which amounts to learning His Word.
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that
getteth understanding." (Prov 3:13)
Learning Bible doctrine creates happiness.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that
keepeth the law, happy is he." (Prov 29:18)
One of the pillars of freedom is the law, for it protects our rights from criminals. Being "without vision" is
comparable to our society today, where criminals are pampered, turned back out on the street, and who get off
on technicalities. The potential for happiness exists in a law abiding society.
" I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth." (3 Jn 1:4)
God is pleased with those who learn and apply Bible doctrine.
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you." (Heb 13:17)
This verse alludes to respecting your Pastor, accepting what he teaches. If he does a good job then
he will receive a crown, and because we have learned what he teaches we receive a crown.
"For he that is entered into his rest, he also
hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Heb 4:10)
"Entering into His rest..." is a reference to sharing God's happiness.
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