Are You Happy?
05/19/08 09:24 PM Filed in: Daily
Devotionals | Strength
For The Journey
The following
devotional was taken from
"Strength for
the Journey" and written by David
Deffenbaugh.
January 5
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 10-11; Matthew 5:1-16
Are You Happy?
Devotional Text: Matthew 5:3-12
What makes you happy? For most folks it has something to do with circumstances; doing the things I enjoy, being treated well by the important people in my life (spouse, friends, co-workers, boss, etc.), success by my favorite sports team, etc. Sometimes the beginning of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, commonly known as the “Beatitudes,” is reduced to a formula for happiness. Some translations even use the word “happy” instead of “blessed.” It seems as though people would have to radically alter their concept of happiness for that to be a very good expression of what Jesus is getting at.
There is a great difference between being happy (as typically understood) and being blessed by God. For one thing, we are going to have to recognize the greater value of being blessed than being happy. That certainly is not to say there is no happiness in following Jesus. But to be sure, being blessed is not the shallow, finicky happiness that serves as the typical object of people’s pursuits. The “joy of the Lord” (Nehemiah 8:10) remains even in the presence of unpleasant circumstances (note the conditions described in Hebrews 11:32-38).
Blessedness can be found where happiness may not. For instance, God’s blessing is found in poverty of spirit, mourning, and persecution for righteousness’ sake. Also, there may be no “blessedness” where happiness is sought (i.e., pleasure of sin, self-indulgence, works of the flesh, etc.).
Jesus proclaimed the approach of His kingdom (Matthew 4:17). His famous sermon was about life in that kingdom. When He returns one day, He’s going to gather those who are in that kingdom to deliver them over to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). Those people will be identified not as ones who found happiness, but those “blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34).
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 10-11; Matthew 5:1-16
Are You Happy?
Devotional Text: Matthew 5:3-12
What makes you happy? For most folks it has something to do with circumstances; doing the things I enjoy, being treated well by the important people in my life (spouse, friends, co-workers, boss, etc.), success by my favorite sports team, etc. Sometimes the beginning of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, commonly known as the “Beatitudes,” is reduced to a formula for happiness. Some translations even use the word “happy” instead of “blessed.” It seems as though people would have to radically alter their concept of happiness for that to be a very good expression of what Jesus is getting at.
There is a great difference between being happy (as typically understood) and being blessed by God. For one thing, we are going to have to recognize the greater value of being blessed than being happy. That certainly is not to say there is no happiness in following Jesus. But to be sure, being blessed is not the shallow, finicky happiness that serves as the typical object of people’s pursuits. The “joy of the Lord” (Nehemiah 8:10) remains even in the presence of unpleasant circumstances (note the conditions described in Hebrews 11:32-38).
Blessedness can be found where happiness may not. For instance, God’s blessing is found in poverty of spirit, mourning, and persecution for righteousness’ sake. Also, there may be no “blessedness” where happiness is sought (i.e., pleasure of sin, self-indulgence, works of the flesh, etc.).
Jesus proclaimed the approach of His kingdom (Matthew 4:17). His famous sermon was about life in that kingdom. When He returns one day, He’s going to gather those who are in that kingdom to deliver them over to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). Those people will be identified not as ones who found happiness, but those “blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34).
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