OceanSide church of Christ

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GOD WANTS ME TO BE HAPPY

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     In Bible class last Sunday morning, we discussed marriage, divorce, and remarriage from a Biblical perspective.

1.       Marriage is ordained of God (Gen. 2:18, 21-24).

2.       We saw that God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16).

3.       He has only given one reason that a person can divorce and remarry.  The reason is fornication (Matt. 19:9).

4.       If a person divorced for a cause other than fornication, he is not free to remarry.  If he does, he commits adultery (Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:3).

 

B.      This teaching is not boldly proclaimed by many who claim to be preachers of the gospel.  Too, we live in an age that is not spiritual.  The Bible is not the standard of living for most individuals.  Therefore, adulterous marriages are rampant in our society.

 

C.     Those who come in contact with the truth, often want to find ways to manipulate the truth rather than accepting what God has revealed in His Word.  One of the statements that is often heard in an attempt to justify unlawful marriage is this:  “I know in my heart that God wants me to be happy.”

 

I.                    THIS ARGUMENT IS BASED ON MAN’S STANDARD OF HAPPINESS

 

A.     The pillars of man’s happiness:

1.       Live with few restraints, especially from God

a.       The kings and rulers of the earth (Ps. 2:3)

 

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

 

b.      The citizens of the nobleman (Luke 19:14)

 

But his citizens hated him, and sent a messenger after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

 

2.       Fulfill the desires of the flesh

a.       The Bible plainly teaches that there is pleasure in sin for a season (Heb. 11:25).

b.      Some want to be able to live in certain sins without being condemned.

3.       Serve God enough to ease their conscience

a.       Their service could not be described as being “on fire” for the Lord.

b.      Their commitment and participation is minimal, cheap, and easy.  (NOTE:  If they described their service to the Lord, however, they would make you think that they are carrying thousand-pound burden on their back for the Christ).

c.       The fact that the church is struggling, needs workers, and could die is not their concern (see Hag. 1:2b).

 

…This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.

 

4.       Live in the lap of luxury and ease

a.       The cares, riches, and pleasure of life often entice the hearts of many individuals, even followers of God (See Luke 8:14).

b.      James 5:5

 

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in the day of slaughter.

 

5.       They comfort their hearts believing that they will be saved in the Last Day regardless of what God’s Word has to say.  At the Judgment, they will try to point at all of the things they did do, regardless of what they did not do (Matt. 7:22-23).

 

Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils?  and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:  depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

B.      The problem is that God does not think like man thinks (Isa. 55:8-9).

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

II.                 GOD’S VIEW OF OBTAINING HAPPINESS

 

A.     It is true that God wants man to be happy.  But, God has His own standard of happiness that is set forth in His holy Word.

 

B.      The actual word “happy” is found 28 times in 25 verses in the Bible.  It is only found five times in the New Testament.  What is said about obtaining happiness in those texts is not the standard of happiness set forth by man.

1.       Psalm 144:15

 

…happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

 

2.       Proverbs 3:13

 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

 

3.       Proverbs 14:21

 

…but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

 

4.       Proverbs 29:18

 

…but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 

5.       Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.  He discussed His actions with His disciples, and concluded with these words:  “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).

6.       James 5:11

 

Behold, we count them happy which endure.

 

7.       1 Peter 3:14

 

But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye…

 

C.     The difference between the two views of happiness involves self.

1.       Man’s view of happiness is consumed with self.

2.       God’s view of happiness finds man dying to self.  He is concerned about God, God’s law, righteousness, service, and others.

 

III.              LONGING FOR MAN’S HAPPINESS IS DECEPTIVE, DANGEROUS, AND DEADLY

 

A.     It is deceptive because it takes a true position, God wants man to be happy, then replaces God’s standard of happiness with man’s standard.

1.       Man does what he desires.  He is content and happy.  He believes that this is God’s will for his life.

2.       The Jews knew that honoring mother and father involved caring for them in their old age.  In order to get around this, they developed a man-made tradition.  A man could loan his money to the temple.  If this were done, he was free from caring for his parents.

a.       A Jew felt good (Matt. 15:5-6a)

 

But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.

 

b.      These individuals deceived themselves.  Jesus said they transgressed the commandment of God by their tradition (Matt. 15:3), and they made the commandment of God of none effect by their tradition (Matt. 15:6).

3.       NOTE:  Just because something “feels right” to man does mean that it “is right” in the sight of God.

 

B.      It is dangerous.

1.       When a person lives according to his standard of happiness, he very well could be living in sin.

2.       Jesus told the Jews:  “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honouoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9).

3.       Is it dangerous to believe you are right in the sight of God, but really you are living in sin?

a.       I’m in a second or third marriage.  I am happy.

b.      But, you are also living in adultery (Col. 3:5-7).

c.       If you are in adultery, you cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19, 21).

 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery…of the which I told you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

C.     It is deadly.

1.       Here, we are talking about spiritual death, namely, the second death.

2.       We have already seen that adulterers will not have a place in the kingdom of God.

3.       The only other alternative is everlasting fire.

a.       In Matthew 25, those on the Lord’s right hand at the judgment were told that they would inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (v. 34).

b.      Matthew 25:41 presents the alternative for those who do not receive the kingdom.

Then shall he say unto them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Millions of people are living under the delusion that God wants them to be happy according to their terms of happiness.

 

B.      In the Judgment, they will find out they were wrong.

 

C.     We do not want them to find out at that time.  It is better to understand what constitutes God’s standard of happiness now and live by it.  Remember, part of that happiness comes by living in harmony with God’s will (Ps. 119:1-3).

 

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with a whole heart.  They also do no iniquity:  they walk in his ways.

 

1.       The word “blessed” is often times defined simply as “happy.”

2.       In various translations, it is translated “joyful,” “blessed,” “happy,” and “blessed and favored.

3.       This is true “if” a person walks in the law, keeps the Lord’s testimonies, seeks him with a whole heart, does no iniquity, and walks in His ways.