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!