How To Be Happy

 How many people wish they were happy?  Have we ever heard someone say "as long as you are happy, that is what counts"?  We tell people "Happy Birthday" and "Happy New Year".  What is our source of happiness?  How can we be happy?  Does the Bible say anything about being happy?  Is God concerned about our happiness?  Some look for happiness in the things of the world. Satisfaction of the soul cannot be found in the things we drink, the people we hang around, the movies we watch, or the things we buy at the store. Even so, the Bible has something to say about our happiness.  Let's consider some of those verses which speak on this important topic.

Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Israel was happy because of her Lord.  She had a God who was her saviour, protector, and helper.  Like Israel, we can be happy if we allow the Lord be our saviour and defender.

 

1 Kings 10:8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

The Lord made Solomon the wisest man on Earth.  Many would come to listen to his words of wisdom.  Those who pay attention to the Lord's wisdom are happy.

 

Job 5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

When the Lord corrects us it is for our own good.  His chastening is for our own benefit.  Those who humbly receive the Lord's chastening and learn from it are happy.

 

Psalms 127:4-5  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Children can bring happiness to a family.  Children are given by the Lord (Ps. 127:3).  Whether someone has none or many, we can enjoy the children the Lord has placed in our lives.

 

Psalms 144:15  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Those who choose to allow God to be their Lord are considered ones who are happy.

 

Psalms 146:5  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Happiness is found by those who allow God to help them.  Those who place their hope in the Lord are happy.  

 

Proverbs 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

When the Lord's wisdom is sought out and found, it will bring happiness.  We should seek wisdom and not let it go. (Prov. 3:18)

 

Proverbs 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Helping those who really need help is a good thing.  Happy is the one who has a compassionate heart and hands that help the poor.

 

Proverbs 16:20  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Happiness can be found by placing your trust in the Lord.

 

Proverbs 28:14  Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Having a healthy respect for the Lord can allow us to be happy.  

 

Proverbs 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

The Lord wants people to keep his word.  Doing what the Bible tells us to do will cause us to be happy.

 

John 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

The Lord washed the feet of his disciples.  He gave an example of how we are to serve.  Happy are we if we serve one another.

 

James 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

We should be working while we wait for the Lord.  Sometimes we must endure affliction for the cause of Christ.  We can be happy knowing the Lord is gentle and merciful even in the midst of difficulty.

 

1 Peter 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

A Christian should be living for Christ.  He should be showing with his actions that he knows the Lord.  And too, he should be speaking of his wonderful saviour.  If others look down on you for living for the Lord, you can be happy!

 

James Utter  June 2012

 

Home   About Us   Answers   Bible Study   Bookstore   Christian Living   Contact  

 God & Country   Good News   Evangelism   Family & Home   Prophecy

Radio Show   Espanol