Happiness

Happiness is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. In fact, none of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something more like apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline shows us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moments of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an apprentice acquires skill by daily and intimate association with a "master," picking up subtle but absolutely essential things, such as timing and rhythm and "touch."

Happiness is infectious. Before we've read a dozen lines, of Philippians we begin to feel joy ,the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us.

When we read what Paul wrote to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi, we find ourselves in the company of just such a master. Paul doesn't tell us that we can be happy, or how to be happy. He simply and unmistakably is happy. None of his circumstances contribute to his joy: He wrote from a jail cell, his work was under attack by competitors, and after twenty years or so of hard traveling in the service of Jesus, he was tired and would have welcomed some relief.

But circumstances are incidental compared to the life of Jesus, the Messiah, that Paul experiences from the inside. For it is a life that not only happened at a certain point in history, but continues to happen, spilling out into the lives of those who receive him, and then continues to spill out all over the place. Christ is, among much else, the revelation that God cannot be contained or hoarded. It is this "spilling out" quality of Christ's life that accounts for the happiness of Christians, for joy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person.

Someone once said:

"I've learnt to be happy , when I'm not happy to be as happy as I am when I'm happy"

Being Happy: Some Thoughts on Contentment

…By:Tiffany Wismer…

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy"

GuilaumApollinaire

…There is something profoundly annoying about the words “be happy”. I mean, if contentment was that easy, we'd all have it, am I right? Well, things that are simple aren't always easy├ö├ç┬¬ but I think it's safe to say that happiness isn't really as hard to get as we think. I'm definitely not an expert on being happy, but lately I did a Bible study on contentment and, according to the Scripture, contentment seems to be a matter of perspective.……Job 20:20 speaks of a worldly man, and it says: “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.” ……This verse is talking about a man who was not satisfied with what he had. He “knew no contentment”. He pursued every delight, not letting any escape him. But then after he consumed it all, it was gone and there was nothing left. And the dissatisfaction remained even when every delight has been consumed. Nothing could quench his lack of contentment. Why?……Committed to Contentment……It seems that contentment requires a certain level of “commitment to happiness”. This might be why commitment-phobes (like myself) tend to be discontent. A commitment-phobe thinks “I am not content with this [job, location, relationship] and therefore I need to find another one that I can be content with, and then I'll be able to commit to it”. But this thinking is entirely backward. It is the commitment itself, not the quality of the thing committed to, that enables contentment. As a friend once told me, we should be satisfied with the “right now good things” instead of looking to “future good things” or longing for “past good things”. ……Contentment is included among the most important principles of life.

In Hebrews 13:1-5…Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. (Greek Continue in brotherly love) Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you.I will never abandon you." (Deut 31:6, 8. )

Contentment is listed with brotherly love, hospitality, compassion, sexual purity, and freedom from the love of money. It is one of the practices or mental states that the Bible says will contribute to a happy and healthy life. ……In the same passage, we find the phrase, "He will never leave us or forsake us." That is the ultimate reason to be content. If we have the Lord, it follows that we lack nothing else. He is committed to us, and invites us to find satisfaction in being committed to Him. He promises that anything we feel we lack, any unfulfilled longing or sorrow, ultimately turns to joy when it is submitted to His love and comfort. When our senses and our human understanding say “follow your heart” we must hear Him saying "follow Me" and do that instead. We must believe that He is not lying to us when He says

Prov. 3:1-2

My child,(Hebrew My son) never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.

This is natural for some of us, and for others it is more of a struggle.

Thankfully, the Lord has promised to give us anything we want, provided it is in His will

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

and contentment definitely qualifies as something that is in His will. ……Contentment for The Weak……In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about his thorn in the flesh, that thing that was bothering him and making him dependent on Christ. He pleaded with God that God would take this thorn away, but the Lord replied:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To suffer for what does that mean? It means we are willing to bear weakness so that Christ's power will be shown in our lives. It means we so love to see God's work that we can regard even our weaknesses and hardships through the eyes of contentment  that state of happiness and satisfaction.

This seems impossible, but if you think about the events of your own life, I think you'll find it isn't. Every Christian I know can point to a time when through their pain or weakness, temptations or trials, God's love and work became so evident that the joy eclipsed the pain. …Colossians 1:11-14…"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,(Or all the patience and endurance you need with joy) always thanking the Father.

He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom(Some manuscripts add with his blood) and forgave our sins.

Endurance and patience with joy is a good way to express this feeling. Weakness helps us see beyond this world, when we see through the eyes of contentment. ……Like the man in Job 20:20, continually consuming delights is the only option that the people of this world have.

They must pursue pleasure endlessly, even when it is ultimately unsatisfying. They have no choice, without Christ.

But we do have a choice. When the world says "follow your heart" we can choose to follow Him, in the opposite direction.

And with each step is promised us a growing and increasingly satisfying contentment. ……So follow God today. And be happy.

The believer's hope and prospect through our Lord Jesus Christ, should engage him to be steady, even and constant in his Christian course, rejoicing always in Him through Whom he has the peace of God, the very presence of the God of peace, and promises that should remove all anxious care. He will give strength for all things, whether to do or bear. He will supply every need of the trusting soul.

Seven things the believer is here said to have through Jesus Christ:

1. Privilege of prayer to help us-v. 6.

2. Peace to keep us-v. 7.

3. Presence to accompany us-v. 9.

4. Pattern before us-v. 8.

5. Policy to calm us-v. 11.

6. Power to strengthen us-v. 13.

7. Promise to provide for us-v. 19

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

6 rdo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent.

13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me

19 And my God mwill supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 … Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:11-13…Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to becontent. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and cneed. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.