INTRODUCTION: Often people make their own lives miserable and other people help them find isery.  Abraham Lincoln once said "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."  Are you laying out a plan for happiness? 

BODY

  I.    TRUST IN GOD

A.     The great man of wisdom Solomon tells us who is to be the object of our trust.

1.      Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6 -  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2.      Proverbs 16:20 -  He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

B.      When we trust in the Lord to guide our lives we will experience a peace
which the world cannot experience.

1.      John 14:27 -  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2.      Philippians 4:6,7 -  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 - and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

C.      Truly trusting in God will allow us to enjoy contentment.

1.      Matthew 6:25-32

A.      The child of God takes joy in God's book.

1.      Psalms 119:103 -  How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

2.      Psalms 119:72 -  The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

3.      Psalms 119:163 -  I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. 

4.      Jeremiah 15:16 -  Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

B.      As Christians, we have reason to rejoice in the Law of God, the Word of God.

1.      It gives us comfort in time of trouble.

a.      Romans 15:4,5 -  For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  5 -  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 

2.      It keeps us from sinning.

a.      Psalms 119:11 -  Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

3.      It can strengthen and build us up as His children.

a.      Acts 20:32 -  "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

4.      It furnishes the Christian with everything that he/she needs.

a.      2 Timothy 3:16-17
b.      2 Peter 1:3 -  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 

5.      Oh how sweet is your word O God.  It strengthens me, comforts me in time of trouble, gives me the strength to overcome temptation.  Through it I read of others who have trod the same road as me and won the victory.  I read of my home you have prepared.  And through it I know that you have prepared the victors crown for me, if I live for You.

A.      There is a general principle that we weep what we sow.

1.      Galatians 6:7,8 -  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  8 -  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

B.      Living righteously avoids the stings and sorrows that those in the world often experience.

1.      Psalms 32:10,11 -  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.  11 -  Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

2.      1 Timothy 6:10 -  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

C.      While there are sorrows and pains that the righteous suffer there are so many problems which the righteous will never have to undergo.

1.      The righteous will not have to worry about alcoholism, drug abuse, sexually transmitted disease, etc.

2.      The righteous don't have to worry about waking up with hangovers, being shot or beaten up at bars, etc.

A.      The regular worship of God is a source of joy and happiness for God's saints. 

1.      Psalms 122:1 -  I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."

2.      Psalms 95:1,2 -  Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.  2 -  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

B.      There is a great spiritual strength to regular worship. 

1.      Hebrews 10:24,25-  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 -  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

2.      Regular worship anchors a Christian's week and gives him/her the strength for living.

A.      A guilty conscience will cause a person to be unhappy.

1.      Genesis 42:21 -  Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us."

a.      The brothers of Joseph had a guilty conscience over the years as a result of their sin against their brother.

2.      Judas had a guilty conscience over his betraying of Jesus, it drove him to commit suicide.

B.      The Scriptures urge us to keep a clean conscience.

1.      1 Timothy 1:5 -  Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 

2.      1 Timothy 3:8, 9 -  Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9- holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

C.      The value of a good conscience.

1.      1 Peter 3:16 -  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

2.      A good conscience for the Christian allows us to have confidence before God.

a.      1 John 3:21 -  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 

3.      2 Timothy 1:3 -  I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 

A.      The grass is not greener on the other side.

1.      This is the lie that Satan has always sought to convince us that we need only have something that we don't already have and we would be completely content.  This was really the ecsence of Satan's tricking of Eve.

a.      Genesis 3:4,5 -  Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.  5 -  "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

B.      Paul taught us the key to contentment.

1.      Hebrews 13:5 -  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
2.      When we build our lives on having things we will never be satisfied.  The more we have, the more we will want.
3.      Philippians 4:11 -  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

A.      Idleness is a recipe for displeasure, restlessness, and despondency. 

1.      2 Thessalonians 3:10-12  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  11 -  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  12 -  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

B.      We should stay active in the work of the Lord.

1.      1 Corinthians 15:58 -  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
2.      Ecclesiastes 9:10 -  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
3.      Romans 12:11 -  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 

While I would argue with Mr. Gallup's definition of a Christian, I would not argue with his conclusion, that those who truly put into action the principles found in the Bible are happier.  How well are you living what you profess?  A lack of commitment is likely the reason for a lack of true happiness. 

Note: Much of this lesson was taken from a sermon by John Gurtler, found on the Internet.
 

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.