One of my favorite songs is by an obscure Christian band called Hokus Pick, "I'm So Happy." The song itself isn't specifically a Christian song since it just features a bunch of reasons to be happy. For example, one stanza goes:
Playing guitar in a band Just got back from Disney Land Driving my new four by four Ed McMahon is at my doorStocks I bought just went up
Canucks won the Stanley cup
Bill Gates put me in his will
Someone paid my VISA bill
In church today, we sang a song about happiness as well. Since I'm trying to reinitiate my old habit of Sunday afternoon quiet times, I figured I'd tackle at least a surface examination of happiness.
The first thing that strikes me is that in all my searching for the words "happy" or "happiness" in the Bible, I find that the word is actually used in English translations very infrequently. In the New American Standard Bible, the word "happiness" is used only 4 times and "happy" just 15 times. Leah names her son Asher, which means "Happy" in Genesis 30:13. In Deuteronomy 24:5, God commands that men be allowed to make their wives happy for at least one year after marriage without being drafted into the military. 2 Chronicles 7:10 records that Solomon sent his men to their tents happy because God had so blessed Israel under his rule. God's discipline is marked as a source of happiness in Job 5:17. Psalm 128 recounts how happiness comes to those who fear the Lord. Having wisdom makes one happy according to Proverbs 3:18. Graciousness to the poor is a source of happiness by Proverbs 14:21 and so is keeping the law by Proverbs 29:18. The results of our labor are a source of happiness according to Ecclesiastes 3:22. Ecclesiastes 4:16 states that the people will not be happy with their rulers. Solomon says that external mourning with a happy heart is better than laughter in Ecclesiastes 7:3. He also tells us to focus on happiness during prosperity in Ecclesiastes 7:14. Solomon sardonically suggests we find happiness in life now, in Ecclesiastes 9:7, because we will soon die. Isaiah 52:7 says, "How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" In Jeremiah 20:15, Jeremiah laments the happy news of his own birth. In Lamentations 3:17, he again laments that he has forgotten happiness. In Jonah 4:6, Jonah is made pathetically happy when God grants him a brief respite from the sun by causing a large gourd plant to shade him. And Romans 14:22 states that a man should be happy that he approves food and drink for the right reasons rather than for the wrong ones.
Looking through that summary, I note that the primary factor that is present in all is that "happiness" is just a transient and fleeting emotion. Jeremiah has forgotten it. Jonah is happy about a plant that only shades him from the sun a single day. A man is to make his wife happy for at least one year before he can be drafted into the military. Happiness is not a true spiritual blessing or something we seek beyond the transient moments of happiness that come and go. We should take satisfaction in our work. We should look forward to moments where we are glad despite mourning. We should work to know God so well that we can approve of godly actions for the right reasons.
However, if I stopped here, I feel that I would be a little disappointed. All in all, this happiness seems like the sort of thing that Solomon would have called "vanity" and "a chasing after the wind." It's here and then it's gone. What's left?
Rather than happiness, I think we need to seek blessing. Blessing is a synonym for happiness, but has permanence. Why? Because blessing comes from God and is not an emotion. Merriam-Webster defines it as: the act or words of one that blesses; approval, encouragement; and a thing conducive to happiness or welfare. When God blesses, that is a treasure that lasts forever. It can lead to the emotion of happiness and attitude of joy and, ultimately, a treasure that we have waiting for us in heaven.
Of course, when we look at where blessing is found, it's often not what we might normally link with happiness. First and foremost, God's choice is a blessing, "Blessed is the man You choose." (Psalm 65:4) Blessing comes to those who know Christ (Matthew 11:6), who believe and have faith (Galatians 3:9), whose sins are forgiven (Romans 4:7).
But then come the verses that are harder. God's reproof is a blessing. (Job 5:17; Psalm 94:12) Suffering for Christ is a blessing. (Luke 6:22) After you know God, even death is a blessing. (Revelation 14:13).
The Beattitudes in Matthew 5 really make this clear, and I will end by quoting them.
3¿Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4¿Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5¿Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6¿Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7¿Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8¿Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9¿Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 ¿Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness¿ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11¿Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Amen.
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