The Happyness Quotient - Matthew 5:3-12
Pastor Dennis Bone
4/7/13
THE HAPPINESS QUOTIENT 4-7-13
The Dalai Lama said, “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” Maybe he got this insight from Audrey Hepburn who said, “The most important thing is to be happy and enjoy life, for that’s all that matters.” These less than profound statements summarize the popular, yet superficial view of many people today: As long as you are “happy” (whatever that means to you) you have purpose, and all is fine. I’m surprised that one of them didn’t write a book entitled, “The Happiness driven life.” Had they, I’m quite sure that it would not have included any of Jesus’ beatitudes, where Jesus defines happiness in terms of God’s purpose not our purpose.
We spent the two months prior to Easter Sunday looking at what Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 5, as He begins His Sermon on the Mount, about happiness. He gives us the “happiness quotient” or in other words the way we should measure and define happiness. Jesus tells us that our purpose is not to be happy but it’s to be holy; it’s not to seek happiness, but it’s to seek God in order to gain true happiness. This view of happiness is counter-culture because it’s really counter intuitive; meaning that it doesn’t come naturally to sinners; it’s a result of God’s grace.
We all know that our Constitution tells us that God gives us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The most important question, especially for us as Christians is first, “How do you define happiness – what is it? And second, “How do you pursue this happiness?” If happiness is solely a subjective feeling and simply personal, then we will pursue it in a way that only pleases us; and will define it only in ways that give us pleasure. This is the way the world defines happiness, thus it should be no surprise that chief end or main purpose of man – according to the world’s quotient or standard – is to: “Be happy and glorify yourself.”
This then is the human perspective on happiness; and the first main point I want us to consider this morning. We all come into this world with this perspective, and it’s reinforced by most of the world around us. The human perspective, as opposed to or in contrast with the divine perspective, is: Pursue autonomy. Autonomy means self-rule, which simply means that as sinners we want our own way. This is why babies cry, toddlers pout, kids whine, and teenager’s rebel; and then we become adults and do all four.
This may become more sophisticated, refined or subtle, but people innately believe, and then learn, that happiness comes as a result of getting what they want because it is based upon their feelings; and if people don’t get what they want they are unhappy. As Christians we often live by this same quotient, because we too at times define happiness through this prism or perspective of feelings and emotions. In the beatitudes Jesus seeks to change our perspective on happiness and teach us that true happiness, from God’s perspective, is not first of all about one’s feelings, but is a result of one’s attitudes and actions that come from a relationship with God.
The world around us not only wants to cling to the human perspective but wants to promote it, and do all it can to make people believe that happiness is attainable apart from God, because “you have it in you” and you are “free” to do it your way. This is the human desire for autonomy and freedom from God. Thus we see first the desire to find happiness apart from God in creation, instead of in the Creator. People take “things,” even the good gifts from God and make them idols. Instead of worshipping God and finding joy and true happiness in Him, people worship created things – people, possessions, nature, etc. – and try to find happiness in them. This is exactly what Adam and Eve did in the garden. They pursued happiness through autonomy.
Solomon expounds on the foolishness and futility of this perspective in Ecclesiastes. It’s a matter of chasing or pursuing happiness instead of, or in place of pursuing God. Second, we see the desire to find happiness is not an issue of righteousness, but one of convenience. For the world, happiness is the standard, thus how you get there is not that important. If following God’s standard or a moral standard is too hard or not convenient or doesn’t make you happy, then create your own subjective standards around your own happiness quotient. Jesus calls us to hunger and thirst for righteousness; the world only hungers and thirsts for happiness. Daniel, like many other men and women of faith, found happiness in standing upon what was right; and were willing to be happy even if persecuted for it, even as Jesus said may happen.
The world doesn’t view righteousness as a means to happiness, nor does it view God’s Word as an objective standard by which to find happiness; and because of this perspective we see a third point: The desire to find personal happiness is the primary goal, thus it determines behaviors and actions. This is why we hear people say, “If it makes you happy then do it.” The basis or standard for behavior is not whether or not it’s right, it’s whether or not it makes me happy. Isaiah, and the other Old Testament prophets, regularly speak about this perspective of calling “evil” “good” and “darkness” “light,” because it makes you feel good. Paul frequently speaks of hedonistic, sensual, and selfish activities – that are fairly common place and acceptable in our culture today – which point out this truth that people seek to find happiness in the creation instead of their Creator.
Sin is what you do when you are not happy with God; and the things you replace God with to make you happy, could never be sin. If homosexual relations makes you happy, then how can it be wrong? If slandering your neighbor or colleague at work makes you happy than how can it be wrong?
The human perspective is that happiness is determined by what I want, what I like, and what makes me feel good. In contrast to this, I want us to consider a second major point: The divine perspective on happiness. God tells us in His Word that happiness is determined by what God wants; and how we respond to His truths. It affects our emotions and feelings but true happiness is not determined by them. God calls us to pursue theonomy, which means God’s rule, and His way; as opposed to autonomy or our way. The Psalmist says, “Happy are the people whose God is Lord.” In other words, if God is Lord over our lives; and we are submitting to His sovereign rule, they we will be happy. This objective fact is what determines happiness, not our circumstances or feelings.
This makes the definition of happiness simple and straightforward, but as I have just talked about, people don’t always like God’s ways so they “feel” unhappy, and look other places for happiness. People look for artificial happiness so they can “feel happy” instead of truly being happy. God also says through the Psalms, “Happy are the people who keep God’s law.” Psalm 1 says, “Happy is the person who does not walk in the way of sinners – or is not pursuing self-rule – but whose delight is in the law of the Lord.” We read in Proverbs 29, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraints; but happy are the ones who keep God’s law.” In other words, people who reject or cast off God’s standards will not be the happy ones from God’s perspective.
The divine perspective that we see throughout the Scripture is this: Happy are the people who trust God; and who experience His forgiveness, presence and salvation. David says, “Happy is the person whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Happy is the person who sin the Lord does not count against him.” This is the kind of happiness quotient that God calls us to pursue.
It’s not about pursuing the things of creation; it’s about pursuing our Creator. It’s first of all about seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness and then trusting and knowing that all the other things we need will be given to us. This is what Jesus says to us in the Sermon on the Mount, as He gives us the Christian perspective on happiness, which is the third main point to consider this morning.
Jesus of course supports the divine perspective and says, “Pursue me;” follow me, for “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Pursue Christ because He clearly defines for us the truth about happiness, and shows us the way to happiness, and then teaches us how to get this divine happiness and maintain it. Living in this world as Christians we struggle between the human perspective and the divine perspective. This struggle or conflict is portrayed in the beatitudes where Jesus teaches us that true happiness is an issue of having certain qualities in your life that please God; and living in ways that are in accordance with God’s law. We do not get this perspective from our human nature; and we do not see it commonly practiced in the world around us.
Thus Christ first points the way to divine happiness and gives us the opportunity to experience it. In the beatitudes Jesus tells us that if you want to be happy or “blessed” then this is how you should pursue it as those who first of all are my disciples. Divine happiness is defined by being blessed by God; which is why Jesus uses the word happy. True happiness must first be defined by experiencing the favor or grace of God. This is why the human perspective is so warped; apart from God’s grace and presence in one’s live, happiness must be re-defined as something you can get or feel without the need for God. But Jesus tells us that this is not true if you want divine happiness. You may find artificial happiness in the things of this world, but this kind of happiness doesn’t last; it doesn’t truly satisfy and it can never save your soul.
Christ shows us the way to love God and keep His law in the beatitudes. Happiness is not a result of how you feel; it’s first of all a result of how you act. True happiness is based on one’s character and behavior. We can not love God or keep His law apart from Christ, thus we must first pursue Christ. We must trust Him by faith and follow Him as Lord in order to have access to divine happiness. But Jesus tells us that if we are His disciples, our happiness will not be defined by how we feel; it will be defined by what we do.
“Happy are those who are poor in spirit” – who demonstrate humility; and who mourn over their sin; and happy are those who seek righteousness – who do what is right because of Christ’s righteousness. “Happy are those who show mercy; who are pure in heart and who are peacemakers.” Happy are those who demonstrate and live out Christ-like characteristics in a world of people who look for happiness in themselves – in their pride and casualness about sin; and in expecting people and things to make them happy, and being upset and displeased when they don’t. Jesus teaches us that the kind of happiness God gives no one can take away, because it’s not based on your feelings; it’s not based on what other people do or on circumstances beyond your control; because divine happiness is based on one’s character and relationship with God.
Christ teaches us that the way to true happiness comes from inward joy and Christ-like qualities. Thus the Christian perspective on happiness should be one that rejects the human or natural perspective of the world around us that pursues autonomy; and as such defines happiness in their own personal, subjective, and usually sinful way. Instead it should be to pursue Christ and be happy, because we find true happiness in Him and in living our lives in a Christ-like way as His disciples. Our purpose in life is not to be happy; it’s to glorify God and enjoy Him, thus to be happy now and forever.
©You’re welcome to recycle these resources for your church free of charge. However, if you find them useful, please consider making a donation to the ministry of GCC
Pastor Dennis Bone
4/7/13
THE HAPPINESS QUOTIENT 4-7-13
The Dalai Lama said, “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” Maybe he got this insight from Audrey Hepburn who said, “The most important thing is to be happy and enjoy life, for that’s all that matters.” These less than profound statements summarize the popular, yet superficial view of many people today: As long as you are “happy” (whatever that means to you) you have purpose, and all is fine. I’m surprised that one of them didn’t write a book entitled, “The Happiness driven life.” Had they, I’m quite sure that it would not have included any of Jesus’ beatitudes, where Jesus defines happiness in terms of God’s purpose not our purpose.
We spent the two months prior to Easter Sunday looking at what Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 5, as He begins His Sermon on the Mount, about happiness. He gives us the “happiness quotient” or in other words the way we should measure and define happiness. Jesus tells us that our purpose is not to be happy but it’s to be holy; it’s not to seek happiness, but it’s to seek God in order to gain true happiness. This view of happiness is counter-culture because it’s really counter intuitive; meaning that it doesn’t come naturally to sinners; it’s a result of God’s grace.
We all know that our Constitution tells us that God gives us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The most important question, especially for us as Christians is first, “How do you define happiness – what is it? And second, “How do you pursue this happiness?” If happiness is solely a subjective feeling and simply personal, then we will pursue it in a way that only pleases us; and will define it only in ways that give us pleasure. This is the way the world defines happiness, thus it should be no surprise that chief end or main purpose of man – according to the world’s quotient or standard – is to: “Be happy and glorify yourself.”
This then is the human perspective on happiness; and the first main point I want us to consider this morning. We all come into this world with this perspective, and it’s reinforced by most of the world around us. The human perspective, as opposed to or in contrast with the divine perspective, is: Pursue autonomy. Autonomy means self-rule, which simply means that as sinners we want our own way. This is why babies cry, toddlers pout, kids whine, and teenager’s rebel; and then we become adults and do all four.
This may become more sophisticated, refined or subtle, but people innately believe, and then learn, that happiness comes as a result of getting what they want because it is based upon their feelings; and if people don’t get what they want they are unhappy. As Christians we often live by this same quotient, because we too at times define happiness through this prism or perspective of feelings and emotions. In the beatitudes Jesus seeks to change our perspective on happiness and teach us that true happiness, from God’s perspective, is not first of all about one’s feelings, but is a result of one’s attitudes and actions that come from a relationship with God.
The world around us not only wants to cling to the human perspective but wants to promote it, and do all it can to make people believe that happiness is attainable apart from God, because “you have it in you” and you are “free” to do it your way. This is the human desire for autonomy and freedom from God. Thus we see first the desire to find happiness apart from God in creation, instead of in the Creator. People take “things,” even the good gifts from God and make them idols. Instead of worshipping God and finding joy and true happiness in Him, people worship created things – people, possessions, nature, etc. – and try to find happiness in them. This is exactly what Adam and Eve did in the garden. They pursued happiness through autonomy.
Solomon expounds on the foolishness and futility of this perspective in Ecclesiastes. It’s a matter of chasing or pursuing happiness instead of, or in place of pursuing God. Second, we see the desire to find happiness is not an issue of righteousness, but one of convenience. For the world, happiness is the standard, thus how you get there is not that important. If following God’s standard or a moral standard is too hard or not convenient or doesn’t make you happy, then create your own subjective standards around your own happiness quotient. Jesus calls us to hunger and thirst for righteousness; the world only hungers and thirsts for happiness. Daniel, like many other men and women of faith, found happiness in standing upon what was right; and were willing to be happy even if persecuted for it, even as Jesus said may happen.
The world doesn’t view righteousness as a means to happiness, nor does it view God’s Word as an objective standard by which to find happiness; and because of this perspective we see a third point: The desire to find personal happiness is the primary goal, thus it determines behaviors and actions. This is why we hear people say, “If it makes you happy then do it.” The basis or standard for behavior is not whether or not it’s right, it’s whether or not it makes me happy. Isaiah, and the other Old Testament prophets, regularly speak about this perspective of calling “evil” “good” and “darkness” “light,” because it makes you feel good. Paul frequently speaks of hedonistic, sensual, and selfish activities – that are fairly common place and acceptable in our culture today – which point out this truth that people seek to find happiness in the creation instead of their Creator.
Sin is what you do when you are not happy with God; and the things you replace God with to make you happy, could never be sin. If homosexual relations makes you happy, then how can it be wrong? If slandering your neighbor or colleague at work makes you happy than how can it be wrong?
The human perspective is that happiness is determined by what I want, what I like, and what makes me feel good. In contrast to this, I want us to consider a second major point: The divine perspective on happiness. God tells us in His Word that happiness is determined by what God wants; and how we respond to His truths. It affects our emotions and feelings but true happiness is not determined by them. God calls us to pursue theonomy, which means God’s rule, and His way; as opposed to autonomy or our way. The Psalmist says, “Happy are the people whose God is Lord.” In other words, if God is Lord over our lives; and we are submitting to His sovereign rule, they we will be happy. This objective fact is what determines happiness, not our circumstances or feelings.
This makes the definition of happiness simple and straightforward, but as I have just talked about, people don’t always like God’s ways so they “feel” unhappy, and look other places for happiness. People look for artificial happiness so they can “feel happy” instead of truly being happy. God also says through the Psalms, “Happy are the people who keep God’s law.” Psalm 1 says, “Happy is the person who does not walk in the way of sinners – or is not pursuing self-rule – but whose delight is in the law of the Lord.” We read in Proverbs 29, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraints; but happy are the ones who keep God’s law.” In other words, people who reject or cast off God’s standards will not be the happy ones from God’s perspective.
The divine perspective that we see throughout the Scripture is this: Happy are the people who trust God; and who experience His forgiveness, presence and salvation. David says, “Happy is the person whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Happy is the person who sin the Lord does not count against him.” This is the kind of happiness quotient that God calls us to pursue.
It’s not about pursuing the things of creation; it’s about pursuing our Creator. It’s first of all about seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness and then trusting and knowing that all the other things we need will be given to us. This is what Jesus says to us in the Sermon on the Mount, as He gives us the Christian perspective on happiness, which is the third main point to consider this morning.
Jesus of course supports the divine perspective and says, “Pursue me;” follow me, for “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Pursue Christ because He clearly defines for us the truth about happiness, and shows us the way to happiness, and then teaches us how to get this divine happiness and maintain it. Living in this world as Christians we struggle between the human perspective and the divine perspective. This struggle or conflict is portrayed in the beatitudes where Jesus teaches us that true happiness is an issue of having certain qualities in your life that please God; and living in ways that are in accordance with God’s law. We do not get this perspective from our human nature; and we do not see it commonly practiced in the world around us.
Thus Christ first points the way to divine happiness and gives us the opportunity to experience it. In the beatitudes Jesus tells us that if you want to be happy or “blessed” then this is how you should pursue it as those who first of all are my disciples. Divine happiness is defined by being blessed by God; which is why Jesus uses the word happy. True happiness must first be defined by experiencing the favor or grace of God. This is why the human perspective is so warped; apart from God’s grace and presence in one’s live, happiness must be re-defined as something you can get or feel without the need for God. But Jesus tells us that this is not true if you want divine happiness. You may find artificial happiness in the things of this world, but this kind of happiness doesn’t last; it doesn’t truly satisfy and it can never save your soul.
Christ shows us the way to love God and keep His law in the beatitudes. Happiness is not a result of how you feel; it’s first of all a result of how you act. True happiness is based on one’s character and behavior. We can not love God or keep His law apart from Christ, thus we must first pursue Christ. We must trust Him by faith and follow Him as Lord in order to have access to divine happiness. But Jesus tells us that if we are His disciples, our happiness will not be defined by how we feel; it will be defined by what we do.
“Happy are those who are poor in spirit” – who demonstrate humility; and who mourn over their sin; and happy are those who seek righteousness – who do what is right because of Christ’s righteousness. “Happy are those who show mercy; who are pure in heart and who are peacemakers.” Happy are those who demonstrate and live out Christ-like characteristics in a world of people who look for happiness in themselves – in their pride and casualness about sin; and in expecting people and things to make them happy, and being upset and displeased when they don’t. Jesus teaches us that the kind of happiness God gives no one can take away, because it’s not based on your feelings; it’s not based on what other people do or on circumstances beyond your control; because divine happiness is based on one’s character and relationship with God.
Christ teaches us that the way to true happiness comes from inward joy and Christ-like qualities. Thus the Christian perspective on happiness should be one that rejects the human or natural perspective of the world around us that pursues autonomy; and as such defines happiness in their own personal, subjective, and usually sinful way. Instead it should be to pursue Christ and be happy, because we find true happiness in Him and in living our lives in a Christ-like way as His disciples. Our purpose in life is not to be happy; it’s to glorify God and enjoy Him, thus to be happy now and forever.
©You’re welcome to recycle these resources for your church free of charge. However, if you find them useful, please consider making a donation to the ministry of GCC
