This picture was entitled “The happiest picture you will see on the INTERNET today”. They were right. Just look at those two faces- Are they happy or what? Just a very young child (notice – no teeth yet) and the family dog, just happy to be alive. This picture makes my day! I wonder; what makes a person happy, a good joke, a kiss on the cheek, a promotion, a gift, a new home? And the list goes on… But there are people out there who are rich and very unhappy. So, what is happiness anyway? To answer this question, I did a small search and this is what I found. The Bible says…
Happiness and Deliverance (Salvation)
Deuteronomy 33 ( World English Bible )
[26] ”There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies. [27] The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’ [28] Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew. [29] You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places.”
God loved Israel and brought them out of Egypt and into a land of plenty. Over many generations God led them and cared for them. He gave them HIS words to guide and correct them. All to give them true happiness.
Happiness and Correction
Job 5 (WEB)
[17] ”Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
Correction seems hard and even mean at times, but ultimately it can be the best thing that can happen to a person. Just think; how many wayward young men have joined the armed forces and came home the better for it. The correction they received made them better human beings.
Happiness and Children
Psalm 127 (WEB)
[3] Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. [5] Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Children can be a blessing. Their first step, their first day at school and a hundred other things are memories that parents never, ever forget. Why? Because we see ourselves live again through their lives. And when they do what we taught them, in the way we taught them, that is a joy that only a parent can know! Consider, for a moment, how God feels when we do things his way and not our own.
Happiness and God’s help
Psalm 146 (WEB)
[1] Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul. [2] While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist. [3] Don’t put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help. [4] His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish. [5] Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God: [6] who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; [7] who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners.
Most of us are ordinary people. We don’t have extraordinary jobs or lifestyles, we are not “rich and famous”. We work and make the most of life that we can. But for those who know God, we realize that we truly have help. Just think about this for a moment… Who is a better friend that the one who made this marvelous world and cares for us, even to the point of suffering for us in the most dreadful way? Jesus is the only one I can think of.
Happiness and Wisdom
Proverbs 3 (WEB)
[13] Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. [14] For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. [16] Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. [17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. [18] She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
Half of life is just not doing something STUPID. The Christian has volumes of information on how to live your life the SMART way- I am referring to the Bible of course. And the Bible is a guide to all the wisdom you could ever want or need. Straight from God, himself!
Happiness Perfected
Matthew 5 ( Young’s Literal Translation )
[1] And having seen the multitudes, he went up to the mount, and he having sat down, his disciples came to him, [2] and having opened his mouth, he was teaching them, saying:
[3] 'Happy the poor in spirit--because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
[4] 'Happy the mourning--because they shall be comforted.
[5] 'Happy the meek--because they shall inherit the land.
[6] 'Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness--because they shall be filled.
[7] 'Happy the kind--because they shall find kindness.
[8] 'Happy the clean in heart--because they shall see God.
[9] 'Happy the peacemakers--because they shall be called Sons of God.
[10] 'Happy those persecuted for righteousness' sake--because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
[11] 'Happy are ye whenever they may reproach you, and may persecute, and may say any evil thing against you falsely for my sake-- [12] rejoice ye and be glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, for thus did they persecute the prophets who were before you.
While most translations use the word “Blessed” instead of “Happy”, the word really means- “OH, the blessed state of the person”. Right about now, some of you are thinking: How in the world can a person be happy while mourning (verse 4) or suffering (verses 11 & 12). The answer is found in a relationship with God. There is a saying I remember from many years ago: God’s will, God’s way, God’s results. When one commits their life to live their life according to what God wants- THINGS CHANGE, BECAUSE YOU CHANGE!
And this my friend is true happiness! May God bless you, and BE HAPPY!
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