What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.
Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:1-3 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them. 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
The word usually translated as blessed also means happy. Most translators seem to have come to the same conclusion, that happiness can be fleeting, but blessedness remains. The beatitudes are keys to a core inner condition. So, the word blessed was chosen, because yes, we can be more than happy.
Poor people are dispossessed, abandoned, with a deep sense that the world has failed them. Can the wealthy be poor in spirit? Wealth deceives many into thinking that they are more important than the “little people.” Has the world provided for us or has the world in reality failed us?
Jesus did not say “poor in possessions” but “poor in spirit.” The description is independent of this material world. The blessed of God rely on God not this world’s possessions, but boldly face the truth of our abject spiritual poverty. We are blessed when heaven rules us, not material possessions.
Poor means destitute and without food, not someone who believes they are spiritually filled, in need of nothing, obnoxious, self-satisfied, shallow, judgmental, and deluded by spiritual fools-gold. Being poor in spirit is simply facing up to the facts. We are all desperately poor and in need of God’s merciful provision.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” not will be but is. The kingdom of heaven is both future and here now. True Christians are not spiritually arrogant, deluded, but those who know they are neither filled nor satisfied, but spiritually destitute.
Mourning
Matthew 5:4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
There is a time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4). It’s part of repentance. Mourning prepares a change of heart. Fasting is associated with mourning, humbling ourselves before God (James 4:7-10), cleansing our hands of dirty deeds and purifying our hearts of wrongful thoughts. There is no joy in sin.
What if we never learn from our mistakes? Never mourning for personal sins is a dangerous attitude. Mourning means there is hope for better decisions next time. If we don’t mourn our mistakes, we will never be comforted. So yes, blessed are those that mourn, for THEY will be comforted.
Meekness
Matthew 5:5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
Inheriting the land can be a metaphor for God’s provision. Who is more likely to be given a job, the arrogant misfit or the humble team player? Humility is ignored by the proud to their own hurt. Surely, the meek are blessed and inherit all the good things of life.
Weak people cover failures with lies. Meek people are strong enough to face the truth, that life is a mere vapor. Humble people are good company, not arrogant people. Overbearing buffoons don’t last long. Gentle people are loved by all and inherit the land after spineless bullies are long forgotten.
Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Praying “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” asks for God’s righteousness on earth. Is this impossible? The Holy Spirit patiently works with us and pricks our consciences to do right. Jesus promises that if we crave justice and what is right, we will be filled.
Righteousness is out of fashion. Our world craves to do wrong, yet there is an emptiness that can only be filled by righteousness. Jesus said blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Those who do, find an incredible sense of happiness beyond words, a blessing directly from heaven.
This is far above the fleeting thrills and hilarity of this world. What is right about right? Wrong produces pleasure for a night, a headache tomorrow and grinding burdens for life. The secret is that righteousness may be difficult, but it leaves unspoiled happiness for this life and the next.
Mercy
Matthew 5:7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Our world is cruel, intolerant, indifferent, tyrannical, disdainful, accusatory, punishing, and totally lacking mercy. Who really cares about the sick or needy? Thankfully some tender-hearted souls work with sinners to guide them towards a better life. Jesus promised that if we show mercy, we too will be shown mercy.
Lack of mercy creates a police-state like atmosphere of secrecy and distrust. Mercy creates an atmosphere of trust, a warm, affirming atmosphere. Without mercy, we tend to cover up problems and leave them unresolved. In an atmosphere of mercy, we are not afraid to admit mistakes and they can be worked on.
Pure-Heartedness
Matthew 5:8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
The Pharisees were clean on the outside (Matthew 23:26). Being clean before God begins on the inside. It is not naivety but innocence, a motivation to do good without pretense, to carry no malice or dishonesty in our hearts. How can the real world survive without such blessed people?
What results from pure motives, which only come from God (Ezekiel 36:25-27)? The pure hearted will see God. Is that because they see the hand of God behind things? Do those with pure motives look for God in everything and thus see Him? Are our hearts contaminated or pure?
Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Imagine the anarchy if nobody tried to negotiate peace. Humanity exists in a constant state of hostility. Peacemakers bring a measure of calm to a potentially escalating situation often at great personal sacrifice. Some people love a good fight. Only peacemakers are blessed to be called the children of God.
Jesus said blessed are the peace-MAKERS, not the peace-attempters. If peacemakers are blessed, are peace-breakers cursed? Nobody likes a troublemaker. Pride may prevent making peace, but necessity demands it. Living in freedom must also include freedom from strife and warfare. Peace does not just happen. It has to be made.
Persecution for Righteousness
Matthew 5:10-12 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Persecution can be mild criticism or bad enough to flee town (Matthew 20:23). A quarter of Christians suffer severe mistreatment worldwide. If we cherish what is right, loving God, we will be hated. Persecution for righteousness tells us clearly that we are blessed because we are on God’s side.
If we do the right thing, we’ll be insulted and vilified. It’s a badge of honor. It confirms that we are on God’s side. The opposite is also true. If everyone loves us, maybe we are doing something wrong. When harassment comes because we did right, it is a blessing.
Heavenly thinking brings happiness. It’s humility, mourning, meekness, right living, mercy, clean-heartedness, making peace and harassment for doing what is right. Happiness is being more heavenly minded than earthly minded. Let’s learn to be truly happy.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Readings
Micah 6:1-8
1 Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. 2 And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. 3 “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! 4 For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. 5 Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.” 6 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Thus ends the reading from the prophet Micah.
Micah asks us to listen to God, who has a controversy with humanity. God challenges us to find fault with Him. He delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery and gave them their own land. We are in heaven’s great court, arraigned before our Judge, and commanded to listen to His voice.
We too are commanded to give a full explanation of our conduct. If we have any fault to find with God, let’s bring it forth. Let’s also repent and be grateful for His wonderful mercies. God requires us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly in fellowship with Him.
Psalm 15
A psalm of David. 1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Thus ends the reading from the Psalms.
We are imperfect, yet we strive to have perfect character. This describes the person we all want to become. We are inspired to copy God’s character, with a social life marked by heavenly patterns and noble virtues. Our goal is heaven. Blessed are those who make heaven their role model.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
The Word of God for the people of God!
Without the cross. Christianity is meaningless. To the Jews, who looked for a conquering Messiah, the cross was a stumbling block. To the Greeks, who looked to human wisdom, the cross seemed foolish. We all come to God by the same path, confessing sin and the failure of human wisdom.
Matthew 5:1-12 in Rhyme
When Jesus saw the crowds around
He climbed a mountain and sat down
Then His disciples came to Him
He opened His mouth and taught them
The poor in spirit they are blest
For heaven’s kingdom they’ve possessed
Blest and happy are those who mourn
For comfort will to them return
The meek and gentle they are blest
For the earth will be their bequest
Blessed are those who want to do right
For they’ll be satisfied forthright
Blest are those who are merciful
For they’ll be shown mercy [in full]
God blesses those whose hearts are pure
Because they will see God [for sure]
Blest and happy are peacemakers
They’ll be sons of God [our Maker’s]
Blest those harassed for doing right
Heaven’s kingdom is theirs outright
Blest are you when you’re insulted
For My sake smeared, persecuted
Joy! Your reward in heaven’s great
For the prophets you emulate
