Sunday, March 13, 2016 pm
“I THINK GOD WANTS ME TO BE
HAPPY”
Perhaps you have heard the above statement being made.
Usually, it is made while seeking to justify some behavior that
is known to be sinful. For
example, the spouse that chooses to leave a husband/wife because they no
longer love them. They seek
companionship elsewhere and end up divorcing.
Or someone who desires to live a homosexual lifestyle, even
though they have been shown in scripture that it is contrary to God’s
will. A teenager or
college aged student begins to explore life to find fulfillment.
He/she shows little restraint in their conduct.
It might be used to justify lying or finding a church that is
more appealing to what one wants than expects us to follow all of what
God wants as taught in His word.
It is a mantra of the “health & wealth gospel” that says God
wants you to have whatever you want.
Numerous other examples similar to these could be mentioned.
The mantra seems to become more and more common around us.
But is this statement true?
Tonight, let us consider what the Bible teaches about statements
like this.
a.
The challenge of the
sentiment in our title is that depending on what you mean determines how
you respond. There is a
very real sense in which God wants us to be happy.
b.
Obeying the gospel ought
to produce joy in our lives.
In Acts 8:39 – the Eunuch went on his way rejoicing.
c.
He calls for us to
rejoice and live with joy - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – rejoice always
Romans 14:17 – the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and
joy
Galatians 5:22 – joy is a fruit of the Spirit.
Philippians 4:4 – rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.
James 5:13 – if anyone is cheerful, let him sing.
d.
“Blessed” implies a
degree of happiness – Matt. 5:4-10 describes the “beatitudes” and those
who are blessed as they possess the qualities described.
James 1:12 – blessed is the man who endures temptation, etc.
e.
Eccl. 2:24 – Solomon in
his quest for meaning in life, noted, “Nothing is better for a
man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy
good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.”
Eccl.
3:11-13 – he realized life is to be enjoyed. Vs. 22 – rejoice in
one’s work
f.
1 Pet 3:10 gives a
prescription for loving life and seeing good days
g.
3 John 2 finds John
praying for Gaius that he prospers in all things and be in good health.
h.
Does God want us to
suffer? Not just so that we
are miserable. But
suffering can strengthen us.
i.
BUT, this happiness is
qualified! Is this the
happiness of the statement in our introduction?
No!
a.
The above description of
happiness is NOT what man has in mind when he makes the statement we are
discussing tonight. The way
this statement is made is often a product of selfishness – one wants to
do what he wants to do more than what is right.
b.
He makes God in his
image instead of following God.
Romans 1:22-23.
Philippians 3:18-19 speaks of many who walk as enemies of the cross of
Christ, “whose end is destruction,
whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame – who set their
mind on earthly things.”
c.
It is NOT found in the
quests of this life.
i.
The prodigal son – Luke
15:13, 17. Could the pursuit
of happiness have been the motivation for his demand for his inheritance
prematurely?
ii.
Ecclesiastes – the book
is about Solomon’s quest for the meaning of life.
He sought to find meaning in wealth, power, knowledge, fame,
wine, women, great achievements, gardens, etc.
Consider Ecclesiastes 2:1-3.
His conclusion – All is vanity (Eccl. 1:2).
d.
The reality of one
reasoning, “God wants me to be happy” is that such is not the real
truth.
i.
It is the attitude that
says I want to have my way and I demand that God accept it.
Isn’t that behind the mantra, “God will accept you the way you
are”? And we are not
addressing one coming to God as a broken sinner, but one who comes to
God with no intention of breaking his sinful conduct!
ii.
It is a desire to serve
God and mammon – Matthew 6:24
iii.
It is a way of pride and
selfishness.
iv.
It is the way of
discontent and ingratitude.
v.
It is often the way of
rebellion
e.
The consequences of such
an attitude:
i.
Rarely does it only affect you – it often results in broken families, spiritual families
being hurt, and depending on the behavior the various results.
ii.
Rarely does such a pursuit bring true happiness.
For example: If one desires to abandon his family for a younger
“model” what happens when she gets older?
If she is willing to cheat with you, what’s to keep her from
cheating with someone else?
The problem with the pursuits of the selfish is that they are – SELFISH!
Which means they never have enough.
It is only a matter of time before they will again be unhappy.
iii.
Usually, the one making such a statement really knows better.
He knows the truth but doesn’t want to address it.
This is the spirit of rebellion.
iv.
In the end, one who lives this way will face the wrath of God
in judgment. 2 Peter 2:20-22
a.
Realize that God’s ways
are not our ways
– it is not in man to direct his own steps.
Jeremiah 10:23.
We need to let God define what happiness is.
Here is the answer to the contrast of our previous points.
After all, He created us and He knows what is best!
Proverbs 13:15, “Good
understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.”
b.
God demands repentance
and obedience.
Acts 17:30-31 – Paul said that unless we repent, we will perish.
Acts 3:19 calls for us to “repent and be converted.”
What was Solomon’s
conclusion in his quest for meaning?
It was not the pursuits of this life that bring true happiness.
In fact, Solomon concludes his discourse noting our conclusion is
to fear God and keep His commandments – Eccl. 12:13-14 – this is man’s
all (“the whole duty of man” – KJV, “this applies to every person” –
NASB). THIS is what brings
true happiness - Ecclesiastes 2:26
c.
What are you willing to give up? True
contentment and gratification is found in one willing to surrender and
sacrifice his selfishness for something greater than himself.
i.
Moses – gave up the
passing pleasures of sin – Heb. 11:23-26
ii.
Paul gave up his
prestige and much more – Phil. 3:4-8 to gain Christ.
When you surrender yourself to God, it will bring a sense of
calm and consolation. I
think of the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30.
d.
Delight in His law
– Psalm 119:92-93, “Unless Your
law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I
will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”
Psalm 1:1-2 – his delight is in the law of the Lord…
This delight is more than merely knowing His word, it is doing it.
(Matt. 7:21)
e.
Rejoicing in suffering
– Time will not permit a discourse on how suffering can make us better,
but it can. It depends on
our mindset. Difficult
times and challenges can make us better.
i.
Jas. 1:2-4 - count it
joy when you fall into various trials… the testing of your faith
produces patience and can make you perfect and complete
ii.
1 Peter 4:1-2 – he who
has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…
iii.
1 Peter 1:6-9 – for now
we are grieved with trials, that the genuineness of our faith may be
tested and in the end result in our salvation.
iv.
1 Peter 4:13 – rejoice
that you can partake in the sufferings of Christ - Acts 5:41,16:25
f.
True happiness is found in holiness – this is what God desires of us.
2 Cor. 7:1 – we are to cleanse ourselves, perfecting holiness in
the fear of God.
Eph. 1:3-4 – the blessings He provides for us bless us in Him – so that
we should be holy and without blame.
Heb. 12:10 tells us that the chastening of God leads to our being
partakers of His holiness.
g.
We rejoice in hope firm
to the end
- Heb. 3:6
h.
Finally, consider Luke
10:20 – rejoice that your name is written in heaven.
Yes
God wants us to be happy.
But that happiness is determined by Him who knows what is best, both for
this life and that which is to come.
Jesus said, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own
soul?” (Matt. 16:26) Let
us resolve to ensure that our happiness correlates with His will.
Think about it!