God Wants Me to Be Happy

Text: Psalms 128

 

I.         The same plot repeats through the stories of people’s lives

            A.        A woman finds a man who pays more attention to her than her husband, so she divorces her husband to marry this other man because “God wants me to be happy.”

            B.        Andy Diestelkamp tells this story: “The girl was just sixteen. She came from a broken home. Her father had divorced her mother ten years previously. Although outgoing and popular at school, she still struggled with insecurities. She craved the attention the boys gave her. She knew fornication was wrong, but her situation was unique. She was lonely and being with "him" made her feel happy and secure. When questioned from a biblical perspective about her immoral intimacy, she acknowledged it wasn't right, but she said, "I think God would want me to be happy." She never imagined that she would get pregnant after just one time. She was scared. A baby would change all of her plans for the future. She became depressed. She went to the clinic and poured out her heart to a counselor. She couldn't consider abortion. God wouldn't like that. The counselor said, "I think God would want you to be happy."”

            C.        Repeatedly the quest for personal happiness becomes the criteria for making decisions that go against righteousness; and yet, the person wishes to think that this rebellion is what God wants in his life.

II.        Choosing Hardship

            A.        Moses chose ill treatment - Hebrews 11:23-26

                        1.         Why? Because it was short-term, just as the pleasures of sin was short-term.

                        2.         He looked toward the long-term results

            B.        Losing in order to win - John 12:24-25

            C.        Denying self - Matthew 16:24-27

            D.        In other words, you don’t get happiness by trying to get it.

                        1.         It is a by-product of knowing you are doing what is right and good

                        2.         Happiness (blessedness) is found in unexpected places - Matthew 5:3-12

                                    a.         Poor in spirit, mourning, gentle, hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, pure in heart, peacemakers, the persecuted, insulted, and those slandered

                                    b.         When you are sad faced, you can still be happy inside - Ecclesiastes 7:3

III.       Where Happiness Is Found

            A.        Fearing the Lord and walking in God’s ways - Psalms 128:1

                        1.         Fear is always needed - Proverbs 28:14

                                    a.         It keeps us out of trouble

                        2.         Holding on to God’s wisdom - Proverbs 3:13,18

                        3.         Keeping God’s law - Proverbs 29:18

                        4.         Happiness in the law of God - Psalms 1:1-2

                        5.         Happy are God’s people - Psalms 144:15

            B.        Enjoying what you produce - Psalms 128:2

                        1.         Nothing better than be happy in your work - Ecclesiastes 3:22         

                        2.         Enjoy the prosperous days - Ecclesiastes 7:14

            C.        Family - Psalms 128:3-4

                        1.         Live joyfully with your wife - Ecclesiastes 9:9

            D.        Seeing others do well - Psalms 128:5

                        1.         Being gracious to the poor - Proverbs 14:21

            E.        A life long enough to see your grandchildren - Psalms 128:6

IV.      Unquenchable Joy

            A.        Ever wondered how Paul and Silas sang and prayed in jail after being beaten? - Acts 16:23-25

            B.        The flood waters of trials cannot quench love - Song of Solomon 8:7

                        1.         God is with us - Isaiah 43:2

                        2.         Obedience sustains us - Matthew 7:24-25

            C.        Through God we overwhelmingly conquer - Romans 8:28-39

V.        Paradoxically, happiness does not come by searching for it, but by letting it go to search for God.

            A.        Yes, God wants us happy. He offers us happiness – not the temporary happiness of the world with its guilt and shame, but true lasting happiness both in eternity and here on earth - I Peter 3:10-17

            B.        No greater joy - III John 2-4