The formula to be happy it is your choice.
Psalm One
Why is this man Blessed? Why is he happy? The simple answer is that taken God into his life as a reality. He has decided to live for what God created him for.
Can you agree with me that God made man to be happy? That all men feel a desire to be happy. There is not one of us who like to live in misery. Happiness is the grand pursuit of all men. We know this but there are many who are looking for happiness in places it cannot be found and in things that will not give it. So let us follow the advice of Psalm one to help us be a happy people.
“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful
Point #1-- HAPPINESS IS NOT WALKING, STANDING OR SITTING WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE. In this first verse, what do we see that makes one happy? A happy person does not walk with the ungodly in their counsel or advice. He knows they are wicked so does not live by that way. He knows that these people do not have God in them and God does not influence them in any way. He is not concerned about his salvation nor that of others. His plan is for others to follow his way and not be bothered to pray, read the Bible, repent of sin or live honestly. This person is not happy so a blessed person does not want to be given to their influence.
A happy person does not stand in the way of sinners. Does not stand in the way of sinners, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. This person not only does not do good but also wants to do evil. He is without God and desperately wicked. A happy person will not let himself be influenced by sinners. Blessed is the person, who does not follow the advice of wicked people. He does not sit in the seat of the scornful. This person is open about being against God. He scorns God or makes fun of God and those who believe in Him. He has what he Bible calls a seared conscience.
The lesson to be learned from this simple verse is that sin leads one downward. One acts on bad counsel leads to doing evil deeds. Once when one is given to evil deeds is end is unbelief totally in God. James says, “When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin and when sin is finished it brings forth death.” Proverbs 4:14, 15 “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Do not stray onto the path of wicked people. Do not walk in the way of evil people.”
We could place this in reverse and say, “Cursed is the man who walks in the counsel of the ungodly, who stands in the way of sinners and sits in the seat of the scornful.” Happiness is from not walking standing or sitting with the wrong people.
Point two-- Happiness is delighting in God’s Word and meditating in it Day and Night.
2 "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Delight is word that brings smile to ones face. Let us say it and see if it does not light up your face. This man’s will, desires, affections and motives are on the side of God and His truth. The law of the lord is his rule of life. All his actions and affections are governed by this holy standard. He knows that it is a law of liberty and not bondage. He is a doer of the Word and not just a hearer. He does not just read for reading pleasure but he takes time to meditate on what the Word of God says. When does he do it? The text says day and night. He does not count sheep or take sleeping pills to get to sleep he meditates on God’s Word. He doesn’t wake up with worry about the day but his mind is on the Word of God.
Pastor Barry Wall wrote: “One of the things I’ve learned after three decades plus in the ministry is that there is no relation between your situation and joy, absolutely none. I’ve seen people in horrible and dark circumstances still enjoying the joy of the Lord. Actually, I believe our joy or lack thereof is because of what we focus on. And the fact is, nothing bad lasts forever. There will come a time that God’s people will find relief in the city of God. Then pure joy will be the order of the day. A day that will never have a sunset! Thank God for that.”
When your mind is in the Word of God you are happy because in this world of darkness it is the only unchangeable force that we can count on. Happiness is delighting in God’s Word and meditating in it Day and Night.
Point three-- HAPPINESS IS BEING PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER THAT GOD HAS PLACED HIM BESIDE. 3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper."
This tree is not growing up in the wild but one planted on purpose by the rivers of living water. It takes the advantage of the good soil and nutrition. It wants to be there for it wants to grow into a strong healthy fruit-bearing tree. The rivers of water refer to river of pardon, of grace, river of promises, river of communion with Christ. These rivers are of unfailing supply all the time. In the right season, he brings forth fruit that is of the right kind. Fruit is expected and is produced at the right time. God is never late. The one who prays reads the Word, meditates will live to see what God has given him to do. He will have the power to do the work he is to do. The opportunities for doing will come to bring glory to God. Sometimes it seems our work will never be done but we do not see as God sees for He knows what needs to be done and when it is done, He is pleased. He is ahead of us and clears the path, provides the power, strength, and time to get it done. A tree by the rivers of water is always healthy, for it has deep roots and is ell fed by the rivers. A godly man is ever growing his roots deeper growing stronger in the grace he has already received and increasing in his heavenly desires bring forth fruit pleasing to God. I like the wording of that phrase in this way, “What ever it produces shall come to maturity.”
HAPPINESS IS BEING PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER THAT GOD HAS PLACED HIM BESIDE.
Point Four—HAPPINESS IS NOT FOR THE UNGODLY. 4 “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." There is nothing solid that keeps these men from being blown away. There is nothing good in them that keeps them from doing evil. They are not planted by God for they have nothing to do with Him. As the winds of the Holy Spirit come these men are blown away form all that is good. An ungodly man is never steady, his purpose is unproductive, his conversation is trivial and foolish, his professions and friendships are insincere and all he does do will be destroyed by Gods’ wind of judgment. They will have nothing to stand upon when that great day of judgment comes for they have built their lives on the shifting sand of this world. They will stand before God condemned with no hope. The church down here is a mixture of saints and sinners because God has let the wheat and tares grow together. Do not be alarmed if some one in the church is not acting as godly as they should, God is the judge. If such a one does not turn from his evil ways, they will not stand with the righteous when this life is over. Sinners will not live in heaven for why would they want to spend time with some one they hated forever? HAPPINESS IS NOT FOR THE UNGODLY!
Point Five. HAPPINESS COMES FROM KNOWING THAT GOD KNOWS ALL. 6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” The one who gives his all to God and places his trust in him will be under the watchful eye of God at all times. He knows the way they take and approves of their motives, purposes and works. He provides for them in any crisis and defends for them in both body and soul. The way of the righteous may not make sense or reasonable at times for it is a way of faith that trusts God at all times.
From this message do you consider yourself to be a happy person? If not what will you do about it? It’s all in Psalm One and you have to do something with God’s word.
