November 4, 2013
[Pastorgraphs now online at ChristSD.com]
Pastorgraphs: “If You’re Happy and You Know It…”
Way back in
2004, one of the first Pastorgraphs I wrote dealt with happiness. It came from
a series of sermons I preached entitled “Life’s Disguises”.
Happiness
is the most sought after quality in life, and yet the most elusive. Human
nature seeks happiness in all the wrong places; such as wealth, beauty,
pleasure, fame and so on.
The very
act of pursuing happiness almost guarantees you will never achieve it. Like the
proverbial mule duped into pulling a wagon by chasing after the carrot that
constantly moves overhead, happiness appears to be just around the corner. Many
people come to the end of life, realizing they have chased the carrot of
happiness, never having quite reaching it; like a mirage in the desert.
Abraham
Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds
to be.”
I recently
came across an article that listed the Eight Foundations of Happiness necessary
for genuine happiness. You might find it interesting. Rather than quoting it, I
will try to restate it in my own words.
1.
A
Poverty Spirit. A
truly happy person is not weighed down by the care of material things. This
poverty is like the person who has absolutely nothing, and has no choice but to
put trust in God. The person who has many things in this life has many worries
that rob life of happiness. Things have a way of getting in our way to
happiness.
2.
A
Caring Heart. A
truly happy person cares about others more than self. When we focus on
ourselves and constantly ask if we are happy, most likely we will not be happy.
It is the person who cares about the suffering, sorrows and the needs of others
who, strange as it may seem, finds happiness. The quickest way to quit feeling
sorry for yourself is to begin caring about the real needs of others.
3.
Humility. A truly happy person is not
arrogant, but knows his or her own weaknesses, ignorance, and needs. It is the
foolish person who is filled with pride. Humility keeps us from many bad
behaviors and pitfalls that rob life of happiness.
4.
Love
of what is Right.
The truly happy person has a passion for the things that are “right”. This is
what the Bible calls righteousness. It is not “self” righteousness; but a deep
hunger to do what is good. Doesn’t everyone want what is good? Maybe, but for
most that hunger for righteousness is more alike a snack than the passion of a
starving person.
5.
Empathy.
The truly happy
person takes the effort to see things from the eyes of the other person. It is
so easy to make snap judgments of people. Until we see with their eyes, think
with their thoughts, feel with their feelings will we understand that is what
God in Jesus Christ has done for us. God so loved us, He sent His only Son to
become flesh so He would know what it is to be human; and still took upon
himself the penalty of all our sins and shortcomings. That is Love.
6.
Purity.
The truly happy
person operates from motives that are pure and single in purpose. This purity
is the wholeness and completeness of integrity. The hypocrite is always worried
he or she will be found out. Only a person who is the same genuine person at
home, work and play will ever know happiness.
7.
Peace. The truly happy person has a peace
that passes understanding. It is not just the absence of conflict, for all of
us will experience trials in this life. This peace is possible when we have the
right relationship with God, or neighbors and ourselves. Only then can we
become peace-makers, who leave this world better than we found it.
8.
Persistence.
The truly happy
person is able to endure trials and tribulations. If being a Christian made
everyone exempt from pain, sorrow, persecution and slander, then everyone would
become a Christian just to avoid those pains. Jesus said those who endure
persecution for righteousness sake will inherit the Kingdom of God.
You might have figured
it out by now these Eight Foundations of Happiness appeared in an article
written 2,000 years ago. It was called “The Beatitudes” from Jesus’ Sermon on
the Mount. I put it into the context of happiness rather than “blessed” only
because we might not understand that what Jesus called blessed is indeed the
only pathway to happiness.
To
the poor in spirit, the mournful, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure
in heart, the peacemakers and the longsuffering belong the happiness found only
in the Kingdom of God; now and in eternity.
Devotedly yours, Bill Jenkins, Pastor
From the
Quote Garden:
“The greatness of the beatitudes is
that they are not wistful glimpses of some future beauty; they are not even
golden promises of some distant glory; they are triumphant shouts of bliss for
a permanent joy that nothing in the world can ever take away.”
~ Dr. William Barclay ~
(Commentary on Matthew)
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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