WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
INTRODUCTION:
What makes you happy? Studies show that people who are healthy and have money are
happier than those who are less healthy and do not have as much money. The question
becomes: does being healthy make you happy or are you happy because you are
healthy? Likewise, does money make you happy or are you happy because you have
money? Also, are people happy because of things like fame, popularity, and prestige, or
are they happy because of such things? Elvis Pressely had all those things, yet he said,"I
am miserable as hell." What makes you happy?
I REAL HAPPINESS CAN NOT BE FOUND OUTSIDE IN THE WORLD:
Jesus defines real happiness in the well-known Sermon On The Mount in Matthew
5:1-12. His definition becomes the word blessed, which in Greek is Makarios, meaning
happy, blissful, joyful, and this legitimate happiness comes from within and not from
without. The world cannot produce this happiness because the world's happiness is
contemporary, based on what is happening now. The slang expression, "what's up?"
refers to what is going on now in your life. Things that are happening now can change at
any time. Health may fail and money may decrease. Other things that people base their
happiness on may disappear at any time. Real happiness needs to be centered on more
than the external chances and changes of life.
II REAL HAPPINESS COMES FROM INSIDE:
This sermon that Jesus preached contains beatitudes, a model for happiness. Jesus
preached this sermon near the beginning of his ministry. Many to whom he was
speaking had their own idea of happiness. To the Pharisees and Sadducees, happiness
meant keeping the letter of the law and performing all of the sacrifices. To others,
happiness meant the overthrow the domination of the Roman government. Others
looked to the Messiah to establish himself on the throne of Israel as the new David or
Solomon. However, Jesus turned happiness upside down. Happiness does not consist
of all those outward and external things. Happiness consists of a humble and contrite
spirit within.For us today, happiness consists in the realization of our sins and a
submission to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and a new life forever with him. Happiness
comes from a real and meaningful relationship with Christ. Too often we engage in an
easy beliverism when it comes to a relationship to Christ. We say a brief prayer of
acceptance of Christ, often from our heads and not from our hearts. We are satisfied
with joining church and attending on Sunday when we can.Some call this cheap grace,
which means not surrendering all to Christ. The disciples followed Jesus to their
death.We are not called to martyrdom, but we are called to die to self.Paul said he died
daily.(1 Corinthians15:31) John the Baptist said he must decrease so Christ may
increase.(John 3:30) The more we let Christ increase in us, the happier we are.
However, real submission to the transforming power of Christ is missing in the lives of
many Christians. We join the world in the pursuit of happiness through the mundane
things of life. Real happiness comes from a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, born of
a broken spirit because of our sin.Most of the qualities Jesus spoke of in the Beatitudes
come from the inside,poor in spirit, the mournful, the merciful, pure in heart. These
qualities come because of Christ being in you. Happiness springs forth from these inner
qualities. A song writer wrote,"I'm happy with Jesus alone. Thank God I can say I'm
happy with Jesus alone." The door of happiness is opened with the key of faith in Christ.
Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst after him shall be filled. Happiness comes
from being filled. Filling comes from a feeling of emptiness. You feel good when you fill
your empty stomach with food. Your lungs are filled with air when you take a deep
breath. You feel better when your thirst is quenched by a cold glass of water. Happiness
comes from being filled with things we need on the inside. What good is a pile of money
when we are thirsty for a drink of water. Money cannot help us when we need
something on the inside that money cannot buy. Things on the inside give us real
satisfaction. We are happy when we are filled with something we really need. Happiness
comes from Jesus living his life within us. Real happiness comes from inside.
Colossians 1:27 says that Christ in us is the hope of glory. Christ in us brings
happiness. Here are some verses on happiness:
a.Happy are they whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15
b.The Godly are happy. Psalm 68:3
c.Your joy may be complete. John 15:11
The words of this song express the power of something within:
Something within me that holdeth the reins.
Something within me that banishes pain.
Something within I cannot explain.
All I know is there is something within.
III REAL HAPPINESS COMES FROM THE INSIDE (CHRIST) WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE:
Real happiness comes from the way we handle situations surrounding us. Things
surrounding us will not always be free from trouble and trials. The storms of life will
surely come. The winds of woe will surely blow. Then we are going to need something
to see us through.Inner happiness and peace through Christ, that something within, will
come somehow. When disappointments arise around us, that something on the inside
says, "Be happy, fret not. God still loves you," (John 13:1) When burdens bear heavily
upon us, something on the inside says,"Be happy, faint not. God holds you." (Psalm
139:1) When fear raises its ugly head, something on the inside says, "Be happy, fear not.
God keeps you." (Psalm 121:5) Jesus is that something on the inside that comes to help
you each time. The lyrics of a song says, "Something on the inside is working on the
outside".I can attest to that in two experiences in my life. I felt a call to the ministry at
the late age of 54. I was teaching school at that time and took a sabbatical to attend
seminary. If things worked out, I could retire and complete seminary. A union
representative said I could do that. However, near the end of my first year in seminary
when I made arrangements to retire, the authorities told me I could not retire from
sabbatical, but had to return to the classroom, or refund the money from
sabbatical.That would present difficulties because my seminary did not have evening
classes, meaning if I wanted to continue my studies, I would have to attend another
seminary an hour away, after teaching school all day. After all my efforts to appeal that
decision failed, a friend of mine told me that he knew a lawyer on the board of education
who might be able to arrange for me to retire from sabbatical. A week before school
opened, word came from the school board that they had passed a special resolution
allowing me to retire from sabbatical. I was happy because something on the inside was
working on the outside on my behalf. Another illustration was that after my third wife
died of lung cancer, I was devastated, since two previous wives had died of lupus and
ALS. My in laws kicked me out of the house, forcing me to find another place.After
finding another place, I labored furiously to find another wife on the internet. After many
disappointments, I finally found my present wife. We married almost an exact year after
my late wife had died. I was happy because something on the inside was working on the
outside on my behalf.
Perhaps you can recall a time in your life when something on the inside was working on
the outside on your behalf.
'"'I'VE GOT SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE
WHAT A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. I'VE GOT SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE
WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE. WHAT A CHANGE IN MY LIFE!
CONCLUSION: What makes you happy? Real happiness comes when something on the
inside is working on the outside!
