What is a happy man?
At the root of every moral dilemma or basic every-day question is the pursuit of happiness. There have been books, movies, even songs written about happiness or things that would make us happy (like love). But have you ever questioned what kind of happiness God wants us to have? Christians often live in this tension of chasing what makes us happy and trying to live out the happiness that God intends for us. This gap between our happiness and the happiness God would want for us can often lead to frustration, disappointment or even anger towards God. So, how can we avoid frustration and disappointment and be the happy man (or woman) that God intends us to be.
This week, special guest speaker, Pastor Tanwin from Ecclessia Mission Church, Maroubra spoke about the happy man in Psalm 1:1-3. King David wrote Psalm 1, opening with the image of a blessed man, or otherwise a happy man. And it’s in verse 3 that we see what King David likens to a happy man; not a king, ruler or rich person, but a tree deeply rooted next to a flowing stream, producing good fruit. From this analogy, we see two distinct characteristics of a happy person:
1. A happy man gets his life from God
There is a very popular lie that is at the root of many other lies: that you can be happy away from God. We know this isn’t true, because God is the source of life. In John 7:37, Jesus says, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” Jesus is the source of life; he is the river King David wrote about in Psalm 1. Our life depends on the constant flow of this river, that is God’s grace through Jesus. So, we must ask ourselves, who or what is the source of our happiness, security, comfort, hope, identity or life right now? Is it the one and only Jesus?
2. A happy man delights in God
It’s one thing to do, but it is another to delight. We can read our Bibles but not necessarily delight in it, which is why we find it so hard to read the Word of God. We use the Bible the wrong way. Instead of using it like a telescope to see God, we use it as a mirror to see ourselves. This isn’t necessarily the wrong way to use the Bible, but to make it complete we need to see that Bible as a mirror and a telescope. If we use the Bible as a telescope, wanting to be nearer and know more of God, the main character of the Bible is not ourselves; but it’s God, the rightful main character throughout Scripture.
The more you delight in God’s word, the more you can delight in God himself. And that’s how we would become happy people.
Dear God,
Thank You for Your son Jesus, who died on the cross for us and provides us with a constant overflowing and outpouring of grace. I pray that You would show me what it means to be happy. I pray that I wouldn’t succumb to the world’s pursuit of happiness, but look to you so I would know what it means to be happy as King David described.
In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,
Amen