Happy and You Know It - Pastor Sean

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22 NLT)

Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 144:15 NIV)

"Are you happy now?  It's a question asked when someone finally gets what they wanted.  Oftentimes it's in reference to the fact that before they got it, they whined about how much they needed it, or were at a disadvantage without it. 

Maybe you've  heard people say something like,

"If only I had a better job"
"I wish our house was bigger"
"Someday we'll be able to afford that ____________"
"If only my team could win."

They are statements of pursuit. A pursuit for life to be more exciting, fulfilling, or meaningful.  But, is it really what makes us happy? More importantly, is it what God promises makes us happy.

The Greek word for blessed is Makarios, translated it means, "blissfully fulfilled as a result of right living."
Godly blessing/happiness is not a subjective feeling based on what we own or how we measure to cultural expectations.  But rather, it is a measure of our submission to God's plan.   Note this, the opposite of blessing is not unhappiness, it is to be cursed. 

Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount that happiness belongs to the mourners, poor in spirit, meek, seekers of righteousness, persecuted, and merciful.  Not exactly the mental picture we get of the family pursuing a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog that doesn't shed. 

American culture has long held to the foundational concept revealed in our Declaration of Independence, that we are allowed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Put another way, Faith, Freedom, and Financial Gain.  So, when in the course of human events, the pursuit of gain hinders or weakens our faith or freedom, something is out of balance.  It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking as long as it gets us ahead financially or makes us happy, we can sacrifice a tenant of faith, or a portion of freedom.  But, instead of finding blessing we find a curse.

God want us to be blessed.  To be biblically happy.   But the idea of happiness so many have is not the same idea of blessing that God has. 

There is no doubt scripture promises God's obedient children will be blessed beyond measure (Num 6:24-27; Luke 6:38; Rom 8:28; Heb 11:24-26) with a prosperity that includes health, wisdom, and finances.  In fact, it's a generational promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) that because of His obedience, all His descendants would be blessed.  The blessing is tied to obedience.  Our pursuit of holiness.

It is normally the most known verses that can be the least practiced.  Matthew 6:33, instructs for us to seek God's Kingdom FIRST, and we are guaranteed blessing.  Happiness is....obeying God.