Rev. David Holwick Q
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 11, 2003
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
ARE YOU HAPPY?
SERMON SUMMARY: Happiness vs. blessedness. Sermon is the
introduction to a series on the beatitudes.
I. Our expectations in life.
A. One sociologist's observation:
In the 18th century the goal of mothers was to have their
children survive into adulthood.
In the 19th century, the goal of moms was for their children
to get good jobs.
Today in the 21th century, moms want their children to be
happy.
#2480
B. It is the goal of our whole culture.
1) American Declaration of Independence guarantees it, right?
a) (Actually, it guarantees the pursuit but not the
acquisition. We try hard, though.)
2) Happiness books are big sellers.
3) Every other sociological study proves the health benefits
of being happy.
4) Perhaps every culture down through the ages would agree
with the truth found in Ecclesiastes 2:24 -
"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find satisfaction in his work.
This ... is from the hand of God."
C. Yet many are miserable.
1) Millions of otherwise normal people are unhappy.
For its seventy-fifth anniversary issue, FORBES magazine
invited scholars worldwide to address the question
"Why are we so unhappy?"
These weren't preachers, but writers like Saul Bellows.
Each scholar approached the topic from their various
perspectives but all agreed on one point:
We are a troubled civilization because of the loss of a
moral and spiritual center.
#17823
2) These unhappy people have a multiplying effect.
Down in Georgia they have a saying: "If Mama ain't happy,
ain't nobody happy."
It's a reminder that one person's moods affect the entire
household, but indirectly it points to a larger problem.
The truth is, Mama never can stay completely happy, and
neither can Daddy.
In short, ain't nobody happy for long.
#5218
3) What about yourself?
D. Many Christians are also miserable.
1) God doesn't want it that way. He wants us happy.
a) Jesus in John 10:10 - "I am come that you may have
life, and have it to the full."
b) Also made clear in Beatitudes. [read Matthew 5:3-9]
1> (basis of new sermon series)
2> Verses have become part of everyday vocabulary.
II. Meaning of "blessed." #2482
A. Equivalent to "happy"?
1) Some modern translations, like Good News for Modern Man,
translate the beatitudes with the word "happy."
2) But happy is a secular word.
a) It is related to a root which means "chance," like
"happenstance."
b) Happiness comes, and happiness goes.
3) Liberals - beatitudes are about positive mental health.
a) Meekness, purity, peaceableness lead to happiness.
B. Bible's view.
1) Blessedness is not based on human emotions.
2) It is based on what God thinks of us.
a) It is our status, like being in 3rd grade.
b) It involves possessing God's Kingdom.
c) Blessedness doesn't change, though our perception of
it may.
III. Earned or reflected?
A. Some think you must gain these qualities in order to be saved.
1) If requirements for salvation, we are all doomed.
2) No one is pure enough to see God. [at least not here...]
B. Beatitudes are intended for those who are already disciples.
1) We become saved by grace, then reflect these qualities.
a) Same idea in Ecclesiastes 2:24.
1> God is one who gives happiness.
2> Therefore seek God to find it.
2) Beatitudes should describe Christians.
a) Our 8 responsibilities.
b) God's 8 privileges he extends to us.
IV. Future hope or present reality?
A. Both are true.
1) Matthew 5:12 mentions our reward in heaven, which is future.
2) But first beatitude says the Kingdom "is" ours.
a) William Barclay comments:
In the beatitudes there is no verb, there is no "are."
The Jews of Jesus' day had a favorite expression which
means, "O the blessedness of ..."
It is common in the Old Testament.
The beatitudes are not simple statements; they are
exclamations: "O the blessedness of the poor in
spirit!"
This means the beatitudes are not pious hopes of what
shall be...
They are not glowing, but nebulous prophecies of some
future bliss; they are congratulations on what is.
The blessedness which belongs to the Christian is not a
blessedness which is postponed to some future world
of glory...
It is a blessedness which exists here and now.
It is not something into which the Christian will enter;
it is something into which he has entered.
The beatitudes in effect say, "O the thrill of being a
Christian! O the joy of following Christ!"
B. Neither are guaranteed.
1) Do not seek the blessings and forget the responsibilities.
2) You must be in a state of being approved by God.
3) The purpose of religion is more than happiness.
Joey Horstman once wrote:
"Religion, it seems, is no longer a search for meaning or
truth, nor a way to find salvation or forgiveness.
It is a means to be happy, to improve your self-image....
I am skeptical of formulas that equate God's goodness or
power or existence with my level of happiness....
I'm not saying God doesn't want us to be happy.
I'm saying that, in the biblical record at least, nearness
to God rarely looks like what we would consider
happiness.
Christ seems less concerned that we are happy than that we
are His."
#2844
V. Are you his?
A. Our happiness/unhappiness often hinges on minor details.
B. Center your life on the biggest picture - God's gift of
salvation to you.
C. Your love for yourself must yield to your love for him.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 2480 "What Parents Want For Their Kids," from Holwick sermon on
December 4, 1984. (original source is lost) Illustration
was modified to focus on mothers - original has "parents."
See also Holwick Illustration #17818.
# 2482 "True Happiness," from Holwick sermon on December 4, 1984.
(original source is lost)
# 2844 "Is Religion Just A Means To Be Happy?" found in Discipleship
Journal #84, Nov/Dec 1994, page 16, which is quoting Joey
Earl Horstman in "The Other Side," July/Aug 1994.
# 5218 "Heart & Soul: Happily Ever After?" by Paul Thigpen, in Marriage
Partnership Magazine, Christianity Today, Inc., Winter 1997,
page 12.
#17823 "Full Pantries, Empty Hearts," by Ravi Zacharias, A Slice of
Infinity: Ravi Zacharias International Ministries;
http://www.gospelcom.net/slice/; November 14, 2002.
These and 23,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://illust.holwick.com
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