Commandments

“God Wants Me to Be Happy”

Posted on by Bob Mathews

There is something within the human heart that longs for personal happiness. Our American forefathers were searching for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We want to smile, laugh, and have a good time. When others ask us how we are doing, we want to honestly say, “I’m doing great!”

Personal happiness is not wrong when placed in the proper context. As the wise man Solomon searched for the meaning of life, he did not rule out the importance of happiness: “Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God” (Eccles. 5:19).

God is the Giver of all good gifts which bring us joy (James 1:17). The apostle Paul proclaimed God’s goodness to the people of Lystra: “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts14:17). Our trust and praise should be directed toward God, “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17).

“God wants me to be happy” is a common statement made today by people who are wanting to excuse themselves from obeying the commands of God. However, is personal happiness our chief objective in life? The answer to this question is an emphatic “No!” If we seek only to make ourselves happy in the here and now, we will miss out on eternal joy. Self-centeredness makes us enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:17-21). Christ challenges us to lose our lives so that we can find true life. Personal happiness should never displace personal holiness, for “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

Jesus is the ultimate example of one who put aside self to please the Father and serve others. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus did not excuse himself form obeying the will of God. He sacrificed temporary happiness for holiness. His choices were made with eternal joy in mind. Let us have the attitude of Christ!

God does want you to be happy, but He also wants you to know exactly what true happiness is and where it comes from. It is not found in the things of this world that will disappear, but in God through Christ who are eternal. Don’t cast aside God or His opinions (teachings). Take them to heart if you want true happiness.

In Search of Wisdom

Posted on by Bob Mathews

There is something about the value and splendor precious metals that has always attracted the human eye. If we stop and think about it, much of America’s westward expansion was due to precious metals. Many pioneers came from the East in search of silver and gold.

In 1849, people heard about the gold in California and “rushed” to find some for themselves. This is the background for the name of the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football League team. In 1859, there was another “rush” into the Pike’s Peak district which later became Colorado. Gold had been discovered, and a mob of 50,000 prospectors were drawn to this territory like a magnet. They came from California, the Mississippi Valley, and the East. One last important gold find is worth noting. In 1874, gold was found in the Black Hills of the southwestern Dakota Territory.

It was the prospect of a better life that drew these people from place to place in the west. Gold and silver could make one wealthy. And for that reason, it was worth earnestly searching for. Many left their homes and exhausted their resources in search for gold and silver. The wisest of all men, Solomon, uses the search for precious metals and hidden treasures as a comparison to our quest for spiritual wisdom:

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if seek her as  silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:1-5).

All throughout the Proverbs Solomon tries to aid in our search for true wisdom. Always pointing to God as the source of that truth, Solomon wants us to have the same passion to seek after the wisdom and knowledge of God as we would the things that hold monetary value to our lives. He even goes on to teach that all things under the sun are pointless without having God. God is the one that has given all things and all things will return to Him. After talking about the truths in life and what has worth and what doesn’t matter, Solomon gives one final conclusion that is the exactly what we all need if we truly are searching for wisdom.

He had this to say, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is; fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14).

As a person what are you searching for?

Is it for money or fame? Do your search for knowledge and truth? Have you been wondering where to find the truth of God? God has made the truth readily available to you by having it written down. Are you willing to put in the effort of searching the scriptures as if searching for silver and gold?