____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 21, 2007 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) What Is Happiness? (R.J. Evans) 2) Potential (Stacey E. Durham) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- What Is Happiness? by R.J. Evans How many times have you reasoned, "I'd be happy, if only..."? And then the dream usually continues with "if only I had more money," or "if only I had married someone else," or "if only I had more friends, a better education, a better job, a bigger house, better health," etc. The breakthrough into happiness for many hinges upon those two words, "if only." What Is Your Concept? Most of those of the world have little trouble coming up with their own formula for happiness. It usually consists of wealth, status and power, and freedom from frustration of any kind. If this is similar to what you have conjured up in order to be happy, then you need to consider whether this is a worthwhile goal or not. The best way to find out is to consider others who have lived in such conditions. King Solomon is a prime example of one who "had everything." According to 2 Chronicles 6-9, Solomon had enough wealth to make some of our modern-day "tycoons" seem like paupers. Consider Solomon's Wealth On a yearly basis, Solomon received six-hundred sixty-six talents of gold (2 Chron. 6:13), "besides that which chapman and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon" (2 Chron. 6:14). Six-hundred sixty-six talents of gold would be about 960,000 ounces. Comparing that with today's standards (say at $300 per ounce) it would amount to something like $288,000,000. There was no need for Solomon to purchase certain items. He made two hundred targets of beaten gold and three-hundred shields made of beaten gold (2 Chron. 9:15-16). His throne was made of ivory, overlaid with pure gold -- "There was not the like made in any kingdom" (2 Chron. 9:17-19). All of the drinking vessels of King Solomon were made of gold, in fact, "none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon" (2 Chron. 9:20). In 2 Chronicles 9:21-22, we read of Solomon importing finery from all parts of the world. Then, those who visited him, seeking his wisdom, brought "vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year" (2 Chron. 9:23-24). When the Queen of Sheba came "to prove Solomon with hard questions," she brought spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones (2 Chron. 9:1-2). But wealth was not everything. The Bible says that Solomon "loved many strange women" (1 Kgs. 11:1). Of course, this is an understatement, for "he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines" (1 Kgs. 11:3). A total of a thousand women! But Was Solomon Happy? Being king, Solomon could do just about anything he desired, and that is precisely what he set out to do. He wrote about this in the book of Ecclesiastes. He experimented with almost everything under the sun, but this non-stop entertainment grew tiresome (Eccl. 2:1); he mentions drinking wine (Eccl. 2:3); he built elaborate houses, temples, vineyards, gardens, etc. (Eccl. 2). He stated, "So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor" (Eccl. 2:9-10). In consideration of the aforementioned, one would be almost certain that Solomon was a very happy man. But was Solomon genuinely happy? Unfortunately, Solomon was miserable. "Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit" (Eccl. 2:17). Consider Paul At this point another man comes to mind who, to some, would have had every right in the world to be miserable. This man is the apostle Paul. At times he had to go back to his old trade of tent making. He did much traveling under adverse conditions by foot or by ship. His life was one of constant danger. Paul catalogs many of his sufferings, perils and anxieties in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. Also, there was a great deal of worldly honor given up by Paul "for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:4-11). Then, on top of all that, Paul had what he referred to as a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). Yet Paul Was Happy True abiding happiness is not derived from earthly wealth, position, sexual freedom, or unlimited power. Paul was a contented man. A "contended" man is a "happy" man! "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). Did Paul know something about happiness that Solomon didn't? No, Solomon knew the basic formula for happy living, but he ignored it and it literally ruined his life. As an old man, reflecting over the wasted years, he gave wise advice to the young: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw night, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" (Eccl. 12:1). Then his closing words, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). And these same principles, if you obey them, can make you happy, no matter what your situation in life may be. If you choose to ignore these principles, then the results will be otherwise. Conclusion Christians can be happy! Christians should always be happy! What an occasion for rejoicing a Christian has with all the joys and blessings that are ours as children of God. We enjoy all the spiritual blessings which are in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). We enjoy the peace of God which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7). Happiness is obeying and faithfully serving God. If you have not yet obeyed the gospel of Christ, we encourage you to do so now. -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 627-628, October 20, 1988 ____________________________________________________ -2- Potential by Stacey E. Durham The word "potential" means "possible as opposed to actual" or "capable of being or becoming." When we say that someone has potential, we usually mean it in a good way. It means that we expect great things from this person. Some sports teams invest millions of dollars in an athlete based upon his potential alone. Every person has a potential for something good. However, not every person has the same potential. Consider the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30). All three men who were given talents had the potential to make a profit with them. Each man's potential was different because of the number of talents given to him by the master, but the master expected each of them to fulfill their potential with what they had. With potential always comes expectations. These expectations are reasonable according to what one's potential is. In the parable, the man who received five talents and the man who received two talents fulfilled their potential with those talents. The master was equally pleased with both of them and gave them the same reward even though one had profited more than the other (verses 21, 23). However, the man who received one talent failed to reach his potential, and the master rebuked him and punished him for not meeting expectations (verses 26-30). The point of the parable is that God has given each person a potential to do good, and He expects the same effort from everybody. Effort is what turns potential into reality. In the parable, the master calls the man given one talent a "wicked, lazy slave" because he did not make the effort to do his master's will (verse 26). The achievement of fulfilling potential will not happen unless the one to whom God has given potential works to meet God's expectations. Every person has the potential to obtain forgiveness of sins and salvation from death. God has made this possible through the giving of His own Son on the cross. However, God still has expectations for every person in order for that person to achieve eternal life. Just as the three men in the parable knew what their master's expectations were (verses 24, 26), we also know what God's expectations are because he has told us through His word. So, we have no excuses for failing to meet our potentials. Young people must especially keep in mind that potential is not achievement. Often a young person who has a tremendous potential for doing good will receive bountiful praise and encouragement from others for his potential. If he becomes satisfied with this praise, he may never accomplish his potential. He must remember that the fact that he has potential means that he has not done anything yet. When opportunities have passed, potential is remembered as a burden if it was not accomplished, and it is remembered as blessing if it was achieved. When your opportunities have passed, how will you remember your potential? Make it a blessing, and achieve what God expects of you now while you can, before He comes to settle His account with you. -- Via Creekview church of Christ bulletin, Gallatin, TN ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes Let those of us who are Christians continue to remember R.J. Evans in prayer. He is still in the hospital, and the doctors are trying to figure out what has been causing his problems. They think it might be either an ileus (in which the intestine doesn't work as it should in pushing the food through) or adhesions caused from his abdominal surgery. Right now they are helping him to avoid nausea by keeping a stomach pump hooked up to his stomach. If it is an ileus, the doctors say it will eventually mend itself; but if adhesions, they will have to do additional surgery. He is not feeling up to having visitors at this time, but the prayers of the saints will be greatly appreciated. Kelli Fleeman is scheduled for a C-section January 26. She has had a ruptured disk since July, and a few weeks ago had to start taking insulin for sugar diabetes. Her husband Rick is hoping these problems will pass as soon as their baby is delivered. Let us pray that things will go well for her and the child. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________